Health Targets and Initiatives

• Tuberculosis (TB):
  • India's target for TB elimination: 2025 ("TB Harega Desh Jeetega").
  • Nikhsay Portal launched for TB.
• Leprosy: Jordan recently declared free of leprosy.
• Disease-Free Status (India): India has become free of Polio, Smallpox, and Trachoma.
• Sickle Cell Anemia: India's target for Sickle Cell Anemia elimination: 2047.
• Minamata Disease: Caused by excess mercury in water.
• Itai-Itai Disease: Caused by excess cadmium.
• Blue Baby Syndrome: Caused by excess nitrates.
• Silicosis: Affects miners.
• Cancer:
  • World Cancer Day: February 4.
  • Cobalt-60 commonly used in cancer treatment.
  • Iodine-131 used for thyroid cancer.

Government and Public Administration (India)

• GST Council:
  • Established on recommendation of Vijay Kelkar Committee.
  • Act: 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016, implemented July 1, 2017.
  • Current Rates: 5%, 18%, 40% (referred to as Next Generation GST Reforms).
  • Head: Union Finance Minister.
• National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT):
  • Established: 1961. Headquarters: New Delhi. Head: Dinesh Saklani. Status: Deemed University.
• University Grants Commission (UGC):
  • Established: 1956 by Maulana Azad. Headquarters: Delhi.
• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):
  • Established: 1861 by Alexander Cunningham.
• Indian Olympic Association (IOA):
  • Established: 1927 by Sir Dorabji Tata. Headquarters: Delhi. Current Head: PT Usha (first female head).
• Indian Judiciary:
  • Opposition in Parliament moved a proposal to remove Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court.
  • Grounds for removal of a judge: Misbehaviour or Incapacity (Article 124 of the Constitution).
  • Process: Requires 100 MPs in Lok Sabha or 50 MPs in Rajya Sabha to sign, then passed by special majority in both houses before Presidential removal order.

International Affairs

• Austria: Banned headscarves in schools for girls under 14, citing empowerment of girls and their rights.
• Israel-Gaza Conflict:
  • Israeli military declared the "Yellow Line" as the new border between Israel and Gaza, implying 58% of the Gaza Strip's area would come under Israeli control.
  • A 20-point peace plan was launched by Donald Trump to establish peace between Israel and Hamas.
  • Jerusalem is a disputed holy site for Islam and Judaism.
• Interpol Blue Notice (Goa Incident):
  • Interpol issued a Blue Notice against owners of a Goa nightclub involved in a fire incident, leading to their arrest in Phuket, Thailand.
  • Blue Notice: Issued to identify or obtain information about a person's location.
  • Red Notice: For wanted persons/terrorists.
  • Black Notice: For unidentified bodies.
  • Yellow Notice: For missing persons.
  • Interpol established: September 7, 1923. Headquarters: Lyon, France.
• India-Sweden Collaboration: Launched seven Green Tech projects to decarbonize steel and cement sectors. India's net-zero carbon emission target: 2070.

Science and Space

• NASA's Maven Spacecraft: Contact lost with NASA's Maven spacecraft after a decade; it was launched in 2013 and reached Mars' orbit in 2014 to study the planet.
• James Webb Telescope: Detected phosphine molecules on Brown Dwarf Wolf 1130C.

Technology and Governance

• Maharashtra and Microsoft: Maharashtra government partnered with Microsoft to launch "Maha Crime OSEI," a digital investigation policing platform to accelerate cybercrime investigation.
• Electric Truck Battery Swapping Station: India's first launched in Manesar, Haryana by Nitin Gadkari.

Environment and Culture

• Charaichang Festival, Assam:
  • Held in Majuli Island, Assam, to restart/restore the Charaichang Royal World Sanctuary.
  • Sanctuary established in 1633 AD by Ahom King Swargadev Singh.
  • Majuli Island: World's largest river island (Brahmaputra River), also India's first river district.
  • Other festivals in Assam: Bihu Festival, Jonbeel Mela, Ambubachi Mela (at Kamakhya Mata Temple).
• Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Kerala is the first state to amend it.

Sports and Arts

• Lionel Messi Statue: A 70-foot iron statue of Lionel Messi was unveiled in Dam Dam, Kolkata, depicting his FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy lift.
  • FIFA World Cup 2022 winner: Argentina (beat France).
  • FIFA World Cup 2026 hosts: USA, Mexico, Canada.

Obituaries

• Shivraj Patil: Former Union Home Minister and Lok Sabha Speaker passed away in Latur, Maharashtra, at 91. He was Home Minister during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and resigned taking moral responsibility in 2008. He also served as a Tourism Minister.

Important Days

• International Universal Health Coverage Day: Celebrated on December 12.
  • Objective: Affordable and quality healthcare.
  • Theme: "Affordable Health Cost" (with a question mark).
• International Day of Neutrality: Also observed on December 12.
• World Mental Health Day: October 10.
• World Post Day: October 9.
• World Cancer Day: February 4.
• World TB Day: March 24.
• World Hepatitis Day: July 28.
• World AIDS Day: December 1.

Miscellaneous

• Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru ranked highest among Indian institutions.
• TEDUM Air Defense System: Launched by Taiwan.
• Human-faced Pillars (12,000 years old): Discovered in Turkey.
• India's first Indigenous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel: Launched from Varanasi.
• Spark 4.0: Launched by Ayush Ministry.
• Palao: Conducted the world's first live underwater interview.
• National Red List Roadmap: Unveiled in Abu Dhabi (where IUCN meeting was held).
• CEAT Cricket Lifetime Achievement Award 2025: Awarded to Brian Lara (West Indies) and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar (India).
• India's Ginger Capital: Mizoram.
• World's Most Polluted City (Air Quality): Lahore.
• Global AI Show: Held in Abu Dhabi.
• Junior Men's Hockey World Cup: India won bronze.
• ICC Women's World Cup 2025: India won the title.
• Chhojing Angmo: From Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh.
• Metaplatforms Undersea Cable Project (Waterworth): Landing stations in India at Mumbai and Visakhapatnam.