Daily Current Affairs
To the Point Notes
1:Sakthan Thampuran
- Reign: 1790-1805
- Title: Raja Rama Varma Kunjipillai or Rama Varma IX
- Nickname: Sakthan Thampuran
- Kingdom: Cochin Kingdom, part of the Late Chera Empire
- Location: Kerala, India
Key Points:
- Rule: Ruled over the Cochin Kingdom from 1790 to 1805.
- Nickname: “Sakthan” meaning “powerful,” given by his aunt.
- Title: “Thampuran” believed to be derived from the Sanskrit “samrat” meaning “emperor.”
- Kingdom: Covered the regions between Ponnani and Thottappally in present-day Kerala.
- Legacy: Known for his contributions to the Cochin Kingdom’s development and cultural heritage.
2: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
- Launch: 2019
- Purpose: Social security for small and marginal farmers.
- Type: Voluntary, contributory pension scheme.
- Eligibility: Land-holding small and marginal farmers aged 18-40.
- Pension: Monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 after turning 60.
Contributions:
- Farmers: Rs. 55-200 per month.
- Government: Equal matching contribution.
Management: Life Insurance Corporation (LIC)
Registration: Through Common Service Centres (CSCs) and State Governments.
3:District Agro-Meteorology Units (DAMUs)
- Establishment: 2018 by Meteorological Department (IMD) and ICAR
- Purpose: Provide local agricultural advisories using weather data.
- Location: Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
- Services: Weather-based advisories on sowing, harvesting, irrigation, and pest management.
- Importance: Crucial for small and marginal farmers in India.
- Shutdown: March 2024 due to NITI Aayog’s claims and privatization push.
- Expert View: Closing DAMUs was a mistake; Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme should be strengthened.
4: Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations
Released By: Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan (September 2024)
Significance:
- Second Joint Doctrine of 2024 (after Cyberspace Operations)
- Emphasizes jointness and integration within the Indian Armed Forces for amphibious operations.
- Key guide for commanders in complex military environments.
Importance:
- Enhances Armed Forces’ ability to conduct operations in the Indian Ocean Region (war and peace).
- Highlights multi-domain warfare (land, sea, air, cyberspace) and inter-service cooperation.
5: New GoM to Review GST on Health Insurance
Context:
- GST Council established a Group of Ministers (GoM) to review 18% GST on life and health insurance.
- Council approved a reduction in GST rates for three cancer drugs.
- Council hiked the levy on car seat covers and approved a cut in the tax on extruded savory snacks.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council:
- Constitutional body under Article 279A of the Indian Constitution.
- Chairperson: Union Finance Minister.
- Recommendations to Union and States on GST-related issues.
- Dispute resolution platform.
- Voting power: Centre (1/3), States (2/3).
6: Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo Elongata)
Context:
- Spotted in Haryana’s Damdama area during a research survey.
Characteristics:
- Medium-sized with a yellowish-brown or olive shell.
- Distinct black blotches at the center of each scute.
- Pink ring on the nostril during breeding season.
Habitat:
- Open deciduous forest patches (Sal, evergreen, dry thorn, savannah).
Distribution:
- Northeast India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia.
- Disjunct population in Chota Nagpur plateau.
IUCN Status:
- Critically Endangered
7: Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts: Malpe and Mulki
Context:
- Malpe and Mulki, fourth and fifth ships of the eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) project, launched by Cochin Shipyard Ltd.
- Mahe, Malvan, and Mangrol are the first three ships.
About:
- Named after ports of strategic importance along the Indian coast.
- Mahe-class ships, replacing Abhay class ASW Corvettes.
- Designed for anti-submarine operations, low-intensity maritime operations, mine-laying, and search and rescue.
- Equipped with light-weight torpedoes, anti-submarine warfare rockets, a close-in weapon system, and remote-controlled guns.
- Maximum speed of 25 knots and endurance of up to 1800 nautical miles.
8: India to Host International Cooperative Alliance’s (ICA’s) General Assembly
Context:
- India will host the ICA’s general assembly and global conference in November 2024.
- Theme: “Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All” (aligned with PM Modi’s ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’).
- Marks the official launch of the UN International Year of Cooperatives – 2025.
- Commemorative stamp launch.
- Showcase of Indian cooperatives’ products and services.
International Cooperative Alliance (ICA):
- Premier body for the global cooperative movement.
- Established in 1895 as a non-profit international association.
- General Assembly meets annually, global conferences every two years.
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