Current Affairs - News Crux

Recently, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) appointed actor R Madhavan as the President of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Society and the Chairperson of the Governing Council, succeeding former president director Shekhar Kapur.

Key Points:

• Composition of FTII Society: The FTII Society comprises 12 nominees, including eight under the 'Persons of Eminence' category and four FTII alumni. Traditionally, the Ministry nominates members while appointing the institute's chairperson.
• Appointment Process: The Ministry's recent appointment of R Madhavan appears to follow a similar pattern, as additional nominations have not been made.
• The Governing Council, Academic Council, and Standing Finance Committee are formed once the quorum of 24 members is complete, including 12 ex-officio members.
• These committees play a crucial role in making decisions about the institute's administration, academics, and finances.
• R Madhavan's Profile: R Madhavan is a renowned actor known for his roles in successful films such as '3 Idiots,' 'Tanu Weds Manu,' and 'Rang De Basanti.'
• He made his directorial debut with 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect,' which received the Best Feature Film Award at the 69th National Awards.

Recently, Chokuwa rice, known as "Magic rice," has been honoured with the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag, recognizing its exceptional qualities and historical significance in Assam's culinary heritage.

Key Points:

• Ancient Legacy: Chokuwa rice, often referred to as Magic rice, has been a dietary staple for centuries. It holds a significant place in history as a primary food source for the troops of the esteemed Ahom dynasty.
• Geographical Origin: The cultivation of Chokuwa rice is exclusive to the Brahmaputra River region, spanning areas such as Tinsukia, Dhemaji, and Dibrugarh in Assam.
• Sali Rice Base: Chokuwa rice is a semi-glutinous winter rice variety, specifically categorized as Sali rice. Its uniqueness lies in its sticky and glutinous characteristics, further categorized into Bora and Chokuwa types based on their amylose content.

August 30 marks the annual observance of National Small Industry Day in India, a day dedicated to acknowledging the role of small industries in the country's progress and offering support for their growth.

Key Points

• Recognizing Small Industries' Contribution: The significance of National Small Industry Day lies in honoring the contributions made by small industries to India's economic advancement.
• Local Employment and Scale: Small industries typically engage in local-scale manufacturing and service provision.
• These businesses serve as significant employers, recruiting local workforce. The investment ceiling for such enterprises is capped at Rs 1 crore.
• They serve as a key solution to unemployment and underemployment challenges in India.
• Historical Origins: On August 30, 2000, the Ministry of Small-Scale Industries introduced a comprehensive policy package aimed at enhancing small businesses' growth through infrastructure and technology development. A year later, the Centre formally declared August 30 as the National Small Industry Day.
• "Vocal for Local" Initiative: In line with Prime Minister "vocal for local" initiative, the best way to commemorate National Small Industry Day is to support local businesses.
• Purchasing goods and services from small enterprises fosters their growth, enabling them to provide more employment opportunities.

On 25^th August, India’s Finance Minister participated in the three-day B20 Summit held in Delhi, along with the External Affairs Minister and Education Minister.

• The B20 Summit serves as the official G20 dialogue platform for the worldwide business community.
• With its establishment in 2010, it has maintained its significance as a prominent engagement group within the G20 framework.

Key Points:

• Insights on Private Investment and Economic Performance: During her address, Finance Minister discussed crucial topics including private investment, the global standing of the Indian economy, and the necessity of managing inflation while fostering investment.
• Union Minister's Perspective on MSMEs: Union Minister Piyush Goyal, in his B20 address, acclaimed Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as integral to the economy. He highlighted their substantial contribution to economic activities.
• Organizer and Scale of the Summit: The B20 Summit is being organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), serving as the B20 India Secretariat.

World Senior Citizen Day is observed annually on August 21. World Senior Citizen Day is a tribute to their invaluable contributions in shaping society and imparting essential life lessons.

Key Points:

• Status of Senior Citizens in India: In India, individuals aged sixty or older, particularly retirees, are commonly referred to as senior citizens.
• Historical Background: In 1988, Ronald Reagan, the then President of the United States, officially designated August 21 as a day to honour senior citizens for their accomplishments and contributions. He proclaimed August 21 as World Senior Citizen Day.

In a collaborative effort to strengthen maritime security cooperation, the navies of India and the UAE recently engaged in a military exercise, involving Indian naval ships INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand.

Key Points:

• Indian Naval Participation: Indian naval ships INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand actively participated in the joint military exercise held at Port Rashid in Dubai.
• Incorporating State-of-the-Art Technology: INS Trikand is characterized by its contemporary design and incorporates cutting-edge technology across all aspects of its structure, rendering it stable, stealthy, swift, and formidable.
• Strengthening Maritime Security: The joint exercise between India and the UAE reinforces their commitment to maritime security and their determination to enhance cooperation in safeguarding maritime interests.
• Promoting Strategic Alliances: The collaborative military exercise serves to bolster the strategic partnership between India and the UAE, fostering mutual understanding and trust.
• Efforts Toward Regional Stability: By engaging in joint military activities, both nations contribute to regional stability, security, and peace, while also showcasing their capabilities to effectively address maritime challenges.
• Cross-Learning and Knowledge Sharing: The exercise facilitates the exchange of knowledge and expertise between the two navies, enabling them to learn from each other's experiences and best practices in maritime operations.

August 12th marks International Youth Day, an annual observance dedicated to recognizing the challenges faced by young individuals globally and advocating for their untapped potential.

Key Points:

• Significance of International Youth Day: International Youth Day aims to raise awareness about the obstacles and issues encountered by youth worldwide while promoting their untapped capabilities.
• Youth as Agents of Change: The 2023 International Youth Day underscores the pivotal role of young people as the foundation of the world.
• Their vitality, adaptability, and steadfast dedication hold the potential to initiate positive transformations, be it on a global scale or within local communities.
• Historical Background: International Youth Day was first celebrated in 2000, following its endorsement by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth on December 17, 1999.
• Annual Theme: The chosen theme for 2023 is 'Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World.'
• Defining Green Skills: According to the United Nations, green skills encompass the knowledge, competencies, values, and attitudes required to live, develop, and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society.
• Promoting Environment Sustainability: These skills encompass technical expertise for using green technologies and processes, as well as cross-cutting skills that enable environmentally conscious decisions.

Every year on August 10, the global community comes together to observe World Lion Day, a significant occasion that raises awareness about the challenges faced by lions and highlights their vital role in the ecosystems.

Key Points:

• Origins and Purpose: World Lion Day was established in 2013 by Big Cat Rescue, the world's largest accredited sanctuary dedicated to lions.
• Founder: The initiative was co-founded by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, who recognized the urgent need to draw attention to the declining lion populations and the threats they encounter in their natural habitats.
• United Efforts for Conservation: In 2013, the partnership between National Geographic and the Big Cat Initiative led to the inception of World Lion Day.
• Promoting Awareness and Conservation: World Lion Day holds immense significance as it amplifies the call for action and support in securing a sustainable future for lions.
• The day underscores the pivotal role of lions in ecosystems and their cultural importance, emphasizing the urgent need for their conservation.

In order to raise awareness of the needs of these population groups, every 9 August commemorates the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

Key Points

• Theme: Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination.
• Origin: This date, adopted in December 1994 by UN General Assembly resolution 49/214, marks the date ofthe first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held in Geneva in 1982.
• Global Presence: Indigenous Peoples have a presence in various corners of the globe, owning, occupying, or utilizing about 22% of the world's land.
• This diverse group, numbering between 370-500 million, embodies a substantial portion of the world's cultural richness.
• They speak the majority of the planet's 7,000 languages and embody around 5,000 distinct cultures.
• Shared Challenges: Despite their cultural diversity, Indigenous Peoples face common challenges concerning the protection of their distinct rights.
• Many continue to grapple with issues like marginalization, dire poverty, and violations of their human rights.
• UNESCO's Supportive Role: Recognizing their vital role in maintaining global cultural and biological diversity, UNESCO prioritizes the needs of Indigenous Peoples in its initiatives.
• Fostering Diversity: UNESCO's efforts are aimed at empowering Indigenous Peoples to address their unique challenges while safeguarding the world's diverse cultural and biological landscapes.

World Wide Web Day is observed on August 1 each year to commemorate the creation and impact of the World Wide Web (www) on the world.

Key Points:

• World Wide Web's Inception: On August 1, 1991, Tim Berners-Lee proposed the concept of the World Wide Web on the alt.hypertext newsgroup, marking its significant beginning.
• History of the World Wide Web: Sir Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web in 1989 while working at CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research).
• The first web browser, WorldWideWeb (later renamed Nexus), and the first web server, "httpd," were developed by Berners-Lee and his colleague Robert Cailliau in 1990.
• The world's first website went live on August 6, 1991, hosted on Berners-Lee's NeXT computer, which also served as the world's first web server.
• Importance of World Wide Web Day: World Wide Web Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the impact of the internet on people's lives and celebrate the creativity and genius of Tim Berners-Lee and other contributors to its development.