Rajasthan

Appearance

National Demographics ​

  • India is currently the most populous country globally.
  • According to the 2011 Census, India was the second most populous country after China.

International Organizations & Disputes ​

  • Colombo Security Conclave:
    • Seychelles became the 6th new member.
    • Existing members: India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mauritius.
    • The 7th meeting of the Conclave was hosted in New Delhi.
    • Objective: To enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean.
    • Capital of Seychelles: Victoria.
  • Latest Members in Other Organizations:
    • NATO: Sweden (32nd member).
    • SCO: Belarus (10th member).
    • G20: African Union.
    • ASEAN: Timor-Leste (11th member).
  • Senkaku Islands Dispute:
    • Tension increased between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands.
    • The islands are currently under Japanese control, but China claims them.
    • The recent tension escalated after Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Taichi expressed support for Taiwan.
    • Google plans to establish its largest AI hardware engineering center in Taiwan.
    • Other Territorial Disputes/Regions:
      • Sakhalin Island: Disputed between Russia and Japan.
      • Nine-Dash Line: China's claim in the South China Sea.
      • Kamchatka Peninsula: Located in Russia.
  • Basmati Rice GI Protection:
    • India's Basmati rice is facing global legal challenges regarding its Geographical Indication (GI) protection.
    • The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is India's exporting body for agricultural products.
    • High Courts in New Zealand and Kenya have refused to recognize India's GI tag and marketing rights for Basmati rice, potentially setting a precedent.
    • India relies on the TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) agreement under the World Trade Organization (WTO) for GI protection.
    • WTO was established on January 1, 1995, by the Marrakesh Agreement, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Its current head is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

National Operations & Initiatives ​

  • Operation Sambhav:
    • Launched in Andhra Pradesh against Maoists.
    • Initiated in the Alluri Sitaram Raju district to counter the resurgence of Maoist activities.
  • Sammitra Initiative (Karnataka): Aims to prevent the misuse of drugs and curb addiction.
  • Child Right Index: Karnataka was the first state to launch a Child Right Index.
  • Key Military/Evacuation Operations:
    • Operation Brahma: Myanmar.
    • Operation Sindhu: Iran.
    • Operation Meghdoot: Siachen (1984).
    • Operation Pawan: Sri Lanka (to end LTTE).
    • Operation Trident: Karachi Port (December 4, 1971).
    • Operation Zero Hour: 1942 (to arrest leaders during the Quit India Movement).
    • Operation Ganga: Ukraine (evacuation of Indians).
    • Operation Ajay: Israel (evacuation of Indians).
  • PM Setu Yojana: Announced by PM Modi to transform 1000 ITIs into advanced training centers.
  • Netpolrex: The 10th national-level pollution response exercise, started in Chennai by the Indian Coast Guard.
  • Aapki Poonji, Aapka Adhikar Campaign: Launched by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Gujarat.
  • Mahajaghar Yojana: Launched by Union Minister Amit Shah in Goa to provide ownership rights to residents.
  • Namchik Namphuk Commercial Coal Mine: Inaugurated by Union Coal and Mines Minister Kishan Reddy in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Namo Semiconductor Laboratory: Established at IIT Bhubaneswar.
  • Mudra Volcano: Erupted after 20 years on Baratang Island.
  • Highest Motorable Road: Constructed by BRO at 19,400 feet in Ladakh.
  • First Cooperative-Operated Biogas Project: Launched in Kopergaon, Maharashtra (first cooperative-operated compressed biogas and potash granule project).
  • National Mission for Camels: Started by the central government to prevent the declining camel population.
  • First Cheetah Safari: Established in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
  • Jan Dhan Yojana Campaign "Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas": Launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
  • Wildlife Week 2025 Projects: Various projects were launched for dolphins, gharials, sloth bears, tigers (second part), and elephants.
  • "Hamara Shauchalaya, Hamara Bhavishya" Campaign: Launched by the Jal Shakti Ministry on World Toilet Day.
  • WhatsApp Me Seva: Started by Telangana for accessing citizen services.
  • Tesla's First Dedicated Center in India: To be established in Gurugram.
  • Birsa 101: Refers to CRISPR gene therapy.

Science & Technology ​

  • First Private PSLV Rocket:
    • Developed by a consortium of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
    • This is the first Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) built by a private company in India.
    • It is planned to launch the OceanSat satellite in early 2026.
    • PSLV is a 4-stage rocket, using alternating solid and liquid fuel, operating on Newton's third law (action-reaction).
  • Cassini Spacecraft: NASA's Cassini mission found new evidence for life on Saturn's moon, Enceladus.
  • Third Gas Carrier Shivalik: Its construction began in South Korea.
  • Arctic Ocean Polar Silk Road: China made its first journey on this route.

Awards & Achievements ​

  • International Tennis Hall of Fame:
    • Roger Federer (Switzerland) is being inducted. He holds 20 Grand Slam titles and was World No. 1 for 237 consecutive weeks.
    • Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj were inducted in 2024, becoming the first Asians to receive this honor.
  • Miss Universe 2025:
    • The 74th edition was hosted in Thailand.
    • Winner: Fatima Bos from Mexico. She overcame dyslexia and hyperactivity.
    • India's representative, Manika Vishwakarma (Rajasthan), did not make it to the Top 12.
    • The 73rd Miss Universe winner was Victoria Kjaer from Denmark.
    • The 75th Miss Universe (2026) will be hosted in Puerto Rico.
    • Indian Miss Universes: Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta, Harnaaz Sandhu.
  • World Boxig Cup Final 2025:
    • Held at Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
    • India won a total of 20 medals, including 9 Gold, 6 Silver, and 5 Bronze.
    • Notable Gold medalists: Meenakshi Hooda, Jasmin, Hitesh Gulia, Nikhat Zareen.
  • Nobel Prizes (2025 - likely a typo in source for 2023/2024):
    • Medicine: Brunckoff, Mary Brunckoff (Remes Dell), Sakaguchi.
    • Physics: Deverrot, John Clark, Martines.
    • Chemistry: Ropson, Kitabagga, Umariyagi.
  • Shastra Ramanujan Prize 2025: Awarded to Alexander Smith.
  • Kantar BrandZ 2025: HDFC Bank topped the list of India's most valuable brands.

Events & Rankings ​

  • World Para Athletics Championship: Indian contingent won a total of 22 medals.
  • 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference: Held in Barbados.
  • Global Fintech Summit: Held in Mumbai.
  • Mera Haouchongma Festival: Held in Manipur, symbolizing hill-valley unity.
  • 69th National School Games: Inaugurated in Jammu & Kashmir.
  • IUCN Congress: Held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
  • Indian Air Force Foundation Day: The 93rd foundation day was celebrated on October 8 at Hindon Airbase, Ghaziabad.
  • National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023 Report: Kolkata was declared the safest city in India.
  • NABARD & IAMAI's First Earth Summit 2025-26: Held in Hyderabad.
  • G20 Summit 2025: To be hosted in South Africa.
  • Global Climate Change Performance Index: India's rank is 23 (previously 10).

Culture & Heritage ​

  • Loknayak D.B. Patil Airport: Located in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
  • Developed India Buildathon Brand Ambassador: Sunshu Shukla.
  • "Devils Shoot You Madam" Book: Authored by Harvinder Baweja, focusing on Indira Gandhi.
  • Uttar Pradesh GI Tags:
    • Mithila's Poshak (traditional attire for Lord Krishna, made of zari fabric) from Mathura.
    • Meerut's Bigul (bugle), historically significant in the freedom struggle.
    • Uttar Pradesh ranks first in the number of GI tags issued.

Observances ​

  • World Television Day: Celebrated annually on November 21st. The first TV broadcast in India was on September 15, 1959. Inventor: John Logie Baird.
  • World Cotton Day: Celebrated on October 7th.
  • World Teacher Day: Celebrated on October 5th.
  • World Fisheries Day: (Date not specified in transcript, but asked as a review question).

Other Mentions ​

  • Sane Taichi: Japan's first female Prime Minister.
  • Chakravat Shakti: Named by Sri Lanka.
  • French Prime Minister Lacarno: Resigned after 26 days, later reappointed.
  • US Declares Saudi Arabia as Major Non-NATO Ally.
  • Google's Largest AI Hardware Engineering Center: To be established in Taiwan.
  • Golden Rice: Contains Vitamin A.
  • Polished Rice: Lacks Vitamin B1.
  • Rice Research Institutes: World - Manila; India - Cuttack.
  • J.L. Baird: Inventor of Television.
  • IUCN Conference: Held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
  • Operation Haiqi Six: Interpol collaborated with the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) to launch this operation.