Rajasthan

Appearance

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Congress 2025 ​

  • Host: Abu Dhabi, UAE.
  • Frequency: Held every four years.
  • Dates: October 9-15.
  • Theme: "Strengthening Transformative Conservation."
  • Previous Edition (2021): Marseille, France.
  • Participation: 140 countries.
  • Organization: IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature.
    • Established: 1948.
    • Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.
    • Publication: Publishes the Red Data Book, listing endangered species.

Other Forums and Summits ​

  • Future Minerals Forum: Held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • Global FinTech Summit: Held in Mumbai.

Key Dates and Indices ​

  • World Ozone Day: September 16.
  • Global Innovation Index (WIPO): India ranked 38th.
  • National Ayurveda Day: September 23.

Indian Initiatives & Collaborations ​

  • Satellite Tracking Station: India signed an agreement with Mauritius to establish a satellite tracking station in the Indian Ocean.
  • 'Swasth Nari Sashakt Pariwar Abhiyan': Launched by PM Modi from Madhya Pradesh.

Indian Air Force (IAF) 93rd Foundation Day ​

  • Date: October 8, 2025.
  • Establishment: October 8, 1932.
  • Celebration Venue: Hindon Airbase, Ghaziabad.
  • Previous Celebrations: 2023 in Prayagraj, 2024 in Chennai.
  • IAF Head: Amarpreet Singh.
  • Motto: "Nabh Sparsham Deeptam" (Touch the Sky with Glory), derived from the 11th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.
  • Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA) Standard: Launched by DRDO and the three armed forces (Army, Air Force, Navy) to enhance and standardize communication.
  • Army Day: January 15.
  • Navy Day: December 4.

Digital Payments ​

  • PayPal Partnership: PayPal adopted India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as its first global payment system partner.
    • PayPal CEO: Alex Chriss.
    • PayPal Established: 1998.
    • UPI Developer: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
    • UPI Adoption: Qatar is the 8th country to adopt UPI.

Maritime & Infrastructure ​

  • Gas Carrier Vessel 'Shivalik': India's third large gas carrier vessel arrived at Visakhapatnam, carrying LPG gas.
    • Welcome: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal (Shipping Minister).
    • Previous Vessels: Sahyadri (first), Anandmayi (second).
    • Naming: 'Shivalik' named after the Himalayan mountain range; 'Sahyadri' after the Western Ghats.
    • Manufacture: South Korea (Capital: Seoul, Currency: Won).
    • Length: 225 meters.
    • LPG Composition: Primarily Propane and Butane.
    • CNG Composition: Primarily Methane.

Crime and Safety Report (NCRB 2023) ​

  • Report By: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
  • Basis: Cognizable offenses (serious crimes where police can arrest without warrant).
  • Safest City: Kolkata (for the 4th consecutive year).
  • Highest Crime City: Kochi (highest cognizable offenses).
  • Minimum Crimes Against Women: Chennai.
  • Scope: Report covers 19 metropolitan cities.

International Cooperation against Cybercrime ​

  • Operation Hechi Six: The 6th operation in its series, launched by CBI and Interpol.
    • Aim: To combat international cyber fraud.
  • CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation):
    • Established: 1963.
    • Legal Basis: Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
    • Director: Praveen Sood.
    • Other Operations: Operation Chakra, Operation Hawk.
    • Establishment Committee: Santhanam Committee (also recommended CVC).
  • Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization):
    • Established: September 7, 1923.
    • Headquarters: Lyon, France.
  • CVC (Central Vigilance Commission): Established on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee.

Geopolitical & Trade Routes ​

  • Arctic Silk Road: China initiated the first voyage on this route through the Arctic Ocean.
    • Departure: Chinese vessel departed from near Russia.
    • Destination: England (Europe).
    • Estimated Travel Time: 11 days.
    • Aim: To establish a new trade route to Europe.
    • Benefit: Reduces reliance on Suez Canal, Panama Canal, and Strait of Malacca.
    • Major Straits/Canals:
      • Strait of Malacca: Connects Andaman Sea and Java Sea.
      • Bab-el-Mandeb: Connects Red Sea and Gulf of Aden ("Gate of Tears").
      • Suez Canal: Connects Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea.
      • Strait of Gibraltar: Connects Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea ("Key of the Mediterranean").

Rural Development ​

  • 'Jan Yojana Abhiyan: Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas':
    • Launched By: Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
    • Objective: Collaborative planning, strengthening local self-governance, enhancing transparency and accountability.
    • Tools: 'Meri Panchayat App' and 'eGram Swaraj Portal'.
  • Panchayati Raj System:
    • Constitutional Mention (DPSP): Article 40.
    • 73rd Constitutional Amendment (1992, effective April 24, 1993): Added Part IX and 11th Schedule (29 subjects) for Panchayati Raj.
    • 74th Constitutional Amendment (1992, effective June 1993): Added Part IX-A and 12th Schedule (18 subjects) for urban local bodies.
    • Launch: Three-tier Panchayati Raj system launched on October 2, 1959, from Nagaur, Rajasthan.
    • Committee: Recommended by the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee.

Wildlife Conservation (Wildlife Week 2025) ​

  • Observation Period: October 2-8.
  • Minister: Bhupender Yadav.
  • Conference Venue: Dehradun.
  • Theme: "Human-Wildlife Coexistence."
  • Five Projects Launched:
    • Project Dolphin Phase II (Phase I launched Oct 5, 2009, when Ganga Dolphin was declared National Aquatic Animal).
    • Ghariyal Project (for critically endangered Gharials).
    • Project Sloth Bear.
    • Tiger Reserves Initiative.
    • Centre of Excellence for Human-Wildlife Conflict Management.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 ​

  • Awarded To:
    • Susumu Kitagawa (Japan)
    • Richard Robson (Australia)
    • Omar Yaghi (USA)
  • Reason: For creating Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) or molecular design (nanoscale, porous structures).
  • Initiation: Richard Robson initiated MOFs in 1989.

Other Current Affairs Snippets ​

  • World Speed Skating Championship (China): Anand Kumar Velkumar won gold in the 42km marathon.
  • 100 T20 Wickets (First Indian Bowler): Arshdeep Singh.
  • Anti-Missile Laser System 'Iron Beam': Belongs to Israel.
  • Supercomputer Jupiter: Launched by Germany (world's 4th fastest, Europe's fastest).
  • Withdrawal from International Criminal Court (ICC): Hungary, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger.
  • Barren Volcano: India's only active volcano, erupted.
  • Foreign Currency Settlement System (FCSS): Launched by the Finance Minister at GIFT IFSC, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.