News Crux Survey/Index

Global Bribery Risk Index 2021

India has slipped to 82nd position in 2021, five places down from 77th rank last year, in a global list that measures business bribery risks.

• According to this year’s data, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Eritrea pose the highest commercial bribery risk, while Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and New Zealand present the lowest.

(Image Source: Ides.ted.com)

About the Index

• The list by TRACE, an anti-bribery standard setting organisation, measures business bribery risk in 194 countries, territories, and autonomous and semi-autonomous regions.

This score is based on four factors

• Business interactions with the government
• Anti-bribery deterrence and enforcement
• Government and civil service transparency
• Capacity for civil society oversight which includes the role of the media

State In News Tamil Nadu

Silambam Practitioners to get 3% Sports Quota for Govt., PSU Jobs

On 18^th November 2021, the Government of Tamil Nadu designated ‘Silambam’ as one of the games to be included for the 3% sports quota recruitment in government departments and public sector undertakings (PSUs).

About Silambam

• It's an ancient weapon-based martial art.
• The Tamil Sangam literature has the early records of Silambam.
• Silambam is a popular variant of martial arts which is performed with the aid of some specific weapons, primarily with bamboo sticks.
• It is widely performed in the regions of Tamil Nadu (India) which is also the birthplace of the game, where it emerged in around 1000 years BCE.
• The word Silambam etymologically means "staff from the hills" with the word meaning of "Silam" being "hills" and "Kambu" being "staff or sticks".
• The game is usually played on an even hard surface where the players use a bamboo stick with its length equivalent to their heights.
• Overall, there are 16 forms of footwork present in this martial art.

Initiatives to promote Silambam

State

• Recognised as a State Sports: The Government of Tamil Nadu had recognised it as one of the State sports.
• Quota in Admission to Professional Courses: Silambam was also included as one of the sports disciplines for consideration under sports quota for admission into professional courses like medical, engineering, law etc.
• Courses in PET Course: Postgraduate diploma, diploma and certificate courses in Silambam have been included in the curriculum of the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University.
• Inclusion in state-level School Games: It was included as one of the sports disciplines in State-level school games and has been recognised by the School Games Federation of India as one of its competitions.

Central Govt.

• Inclusion in Khelo India Scheme: The Government of India has also approved the inclusion of Silambam under the component of ‘Promotion of Inclusiveness through Sports’ of the New Khelo India Scheme.

News Crux Defence/Military Exercises

Offshore Security Exercise - 'Prasthan'

• On 16^th November 2021, the Western Naval Command of Indian Navy conducted a security exercise, called "Prasthan", in the Offshore Development Area (ODA) off the coast of Mumbai.
• The exercise, conducted by the Headquarters Western Naval Command, is held every six months.
• The exercise aims to integrate maritime stakeholders, including the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, ONGC, Port Trust, Customs, State Fisheries department and Marine Police, towards refining standard operating procedures for response to various contingencies that could occur in the ODAs.
• The exercise was conducted on the MHN platform of ONGC located about 94 nautical miles west of Mumbai.
• The drill focused on contingencies such as terrorist intrusion, bomb explosion, major fire, oil spill, man overboard, casualty evacuation, loss of control of vessel and mass evacuation.

News Crux Important Days/Weeks

20 November: World Children’s Day

• World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare.
• November 20th is an important date as it is the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• The 2021 observance is based on the Theme: “A Better Future for Every Child”.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how inequality affects the rights of every child. From climate change, education and mental health, to ending racism and discrimination, children and young people are raising their voices on the issues that matter to their generation and calling for adults to create a better future.