International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

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The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations for coordinating economic, social and environmental issues, as well as for implementing internationally agreed development goals.

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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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World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on February 2nd. The day marks the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. The day is celebrated to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands for people and the planet.

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Headquarters of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific is headquartered at Bangkok,Thailand. It is formed on 28 March, 1947.

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Dhruva is India’s largest indigenous research and production nuclear reactor. It is an indigenously built 100MWt research reactor at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai. Operational since 1985, this heavy-water moderated and cooled reactor predominantly uses uranium as fuel. The reactor is used primarily for the production of weapons-grade plutonium for India’s nuclear deterrent program. Additionally, it is also used for research in materials science and to provide irradiation services.

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Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, wrote Hasanaat ul-Aarifin (virtues of the saints). Some of the famous works done by him are Safinat ul- Awliya, Sakinat ul-Awliya, Risaala-i Haq Numa, Iksir-i ‘Azam (Diwan-e-Dara Shukoh), etc.

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The Telangana state government is planning to set up India’s first Centre of Excellence (CoE) for defence. It aims to develop the ecosystem in the state in order to increase the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Boeing and Airbus, & others. The state government is in talks with several interested parties for setting up manufacturing centres in the state.

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On 13th Feb, the 3rd Indo-German Environment Forum was held in New Delhi with the theme “Cleaner Air, Greener Economy”. The one-day event focuses on challenges, solutions and necessary framework conditions of air pollution control, waste management and circular economy as well as implementation of NDCs and SDGs based on Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030 of UN respectively. Around 250 representatives of ministries, business and science as well as non-governmental organizations participated in the forum, which is organized by the two environment ministries in cooperation with the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The Forum provided a platform for the bilateral exchange of high-level policy-makers and other key players on international environmental and climate policy and cooperation between the two countries.

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During October Revolution, urban workers began to organize into councils wherein revolutionaries criticized the provisional government and its actions.  Bolshevik Red Guards forces under the Military Revolutionary Committee began the occupation of government buildings on 7 November 1917.

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• The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is an international financial institution that offers loans to middle-income developing countries. The IBRD is the first of five member institutions that compose the World Bank Group, and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States.
• The International Finance Corporation is an international financial institution that offers investment, advisory, and asset-management services to encourage private-sector development in less developed countries. The IFC is a member of the World Bank Group and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States.
• The International Fund for Agricultural Development is an international financial institution and a specialised agency of the United Nations dedicated to eradicating poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries. It is headquartered in Rome, Italy.
• The International Monetary Fund, also known as the Fund, is an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., consisting of 189 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation.
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) was established in 1977 with the objective to fight rural poverty. Its mission is to “Enable poor rural people to overcome poverty”. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is one of five institutions that comprise the World Bank Group.