1. Indian Heritage

• Culture

Lachit Borphukan on Lachit Diwas.

he history of India is about unprecedented bravery and valour against the oppressors. The role of Lachit Borphukan in India’s freedom struggle is one such glorious chapter in the nation’s history. Lachit Borphukan (November 24, 1622 —April 25, 1672) was the famous General of the Royal Army of the Ahom Kingdom of Assam who defeated the Mughals and successfully halted the ever-expanding ambitions of the Mughals under Aurangzeb. He inspired the Assamese soldiers in the Battle of Saraighat, fought in 1671, and inflicted a crushing and humiliating defeat on the Mughals. The heroic fight of Lachit Borphukan and his army remains one of the most inspiring military feats of resistance in the history of our country.

On November 24 each year, Lachit Divas (Lachit Day) is celebrated state-wide in Assam to commemorate the heroism of Lachit Borphukan and the victory of the Assamese army at the Battle of Saraighat.

Borphukan achieved the biggest victory of his period in adverse circumstances against a large Mughal army. He united and brought together the tribal forces of Assam. The bravery shown by Veer Lachit Borphukan at Saraighat was also the culmination of his immense love for the motherland. The courage and fearlessness of Lachit Borphukan are the identities of Assam.

• Modern Indian history

• The Freedom Struggle

 

• Post-independence

• Indian Society

A. population and associated issues

B. poverty and developmental issues

C.urbanization

   7. Geographical features

8.Indian Constitution

9. Polity

 

Governor holds no veto power over Bills, says SC

The Supreme Court has laid down the law that a Governor, in case he withholds assent to a Bill, should send it back to the State legislature “as soon as possible” with a message to reconsider the proposed law.

If the Assembly reiterates the Bill “with or without amendments”, the Governor has no choice or discretion, and has to give his assent to it.

The November 10 judgment released on Thursday was based on a petition filed by the Punjab government against its Governor’s action to hold back crucial Bills. The verdict would be a significant boost to Tamil Nadu’s case.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly had returned 10 crucial Bills to Governor R.N. Ravi, who had withheld assent in the first instance. “The substantive part of Article 200 empowers the Governor to withhold assent to the Bill. In such an event, the Governor must mandatorily follow the course of action which is indicated in the first proviso of communicating to the State Legislature ‘as soon as possible’ a message warranting the reconsideration of the Bill…,” a threejudge Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, held.

Ultimate authority

“The ultimate decision on whether or not to accept the advice of the Governor as contained in the message belongs to the legislature alone. That the message of the Governor does not bind the legislature is evident from the use of the expression ‘if the Bill is

passed again …with or without amendments’,” the Bench held.

The court held that a Governor who chooses to withhold a Bill without doing anything further would be acting in contravention of the Constitution. “The Governor as the unelected Head of State would be in a position to virtually veto the functioning of the legislative domain by a duly elected legislature by simply declaring that assent is withheld without any further recourse. Such a course of action would be contrary to fundamental principles of a constitutional democracy based on a Parliamentary pattern of governance,” the court held.

 

10. Governance

A. institutions

CONCEPT OF E-GOVERNANCE

E-governance is the application of ICT to the processes of government functioning for good governance. In other words, e-governance is the public sector’s use of ICTs with the aim to improve information and service delivery, encourage citizen participation in decision-making and make government more accountable, transparent and efficient. The Ministry of Information and Technology states that e-governance goes far beyond mere computerisation of stand alone back office operations. It implies fundamental changes in government operations; and new set of responsibilities for the legislature, executive, judiciary and citizens

So in essence, e-governance is the application of ICT in government functioning to bring in SMART governance implying: simple, moral, accountable, responsive and transparent governance.

SMART GOVERNANCE

Simple– meaning simplification of rules, regulations and processes of government through the use of ICTs and thereby providing for a user-friendly government

Moral– connoting emergence of an entirely new system of ethical values in the political and administrative machinery. Technology interventions improve the efficiency of anticorruption agencies, police, judiciary, etc.

Accountable-facilitating design, development and implementation of effective Management Information System and performance measurement mechanisms and thereby ensuring accountability of public service functionaries. Responsive– streamlining the processes to speed up service delivery and make system more responsive. Transparent-bringing information hitherto confined in the government documents to the public domain and making processes and functions transparent, which in turn would bring equity and rule of law in responses of the administrative agencie

E-governance and E-government

E-governance and e-government are often used interchangeably, so distinguishing between them at this stage is imperative. According to Thomas B. Riley government and governance are both about getting the consent and cooperation of the governed. But whereas government is the formal apparatus for this objective, governance is the outcome as experienced by those on the receiving end…. E-government can be more productive version of government in general, if it is well implemented and managed. E-governance can evolve into participatory governance, if it is well supported with appropriate principles, objectives, programmes and architectures. E-government is, thus, the modernisation of processes and functions of government using the tools of ICT as to transform the way it serves its constituents. As per the World Bank, e-government refers to the use by government agencies of information technologies (such as wide area networks, internet and mobile computing) that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses and other arms of government. It is the use of technology to enhance the access to and delivery of government services to benefit citizens, business partners and employees. E-governance, on the other hand, goes beyond the service delivery aspects and is seen as a decisional process. It is about the use of ICTs in the systems of governance, that is, using ICT to involve multistakeholders in decision-making and in making governments open and accountable.

B. regulatory

Cauvery water dispute

The Kaveri is an interstate basin that originates in Karnataka and passes through Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry before draining into the Bay of Bengal. The total watershed of the Kaveri basin is 81,155 sq km, of which the river’s catchment area is about 34,273 sq km in Karnataka, 2,866 sq km in Kerala and the remaining 44,016 sq km in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

1.The Harangi and Hemavati dams in Karnataka have been constructed on the Harangi and Hemavati rivers which are tributaries of the rivers Kaveri. The Krishna Raja Sagar Dam has been constructed downstream of these two dams on the main Kaveri River in Karnataka. The Kabini Reservoir in Karnataka is constructed on the Kabini River, a tributary of the Kaveri River, which joins the Krishna Sagar Reservoir. The Mettur Dam has been constructed across the main stream of Kaveri in Tamil Nadu. The Central Water Commission has established two G&D sites namely Kollegal and Billigundlu on the main Kaveri river between the confluence of Kabini and Mettur dam with Kaveri. The Billigundlu G&D site is about 60 km below the Mettur Dam where the Kaveri River forms the border with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
2.The Government of India constituted the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) on June 2, 1990, to adjudicate the water dispute between the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry with respect to the inter-state Cauvery water and river basin. Formed.
3.The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) passed an interim order on June 25, 1991 directing the State of Karnataka to release water from its reservoir in Karnataka so that in a water year (1 June 205 million cubic feet (TalMC) of water to the Mettur reservoir in Tamil Nadu, either monthly or as a weekly assessment, between May 2016 to May 31.
4.Water is to be released in four weeks in four equal installments with reference to a particular month. If it is not possible to release the required quantity of water in any week, the said shortfall will be released in the subsequent week. 6 TMC of water will be given by the State of Tamil Nadu in a regulated manner to the Karaikal region of the Union Territory of Pondicherry.
5.Having considered the said Order, the President of India, under clause (1) of Article 143 of the Constitution of India, on the 27th July, 1991, to consider and report on the following Referred to the Supreme Court of India :‐
i. whether the order of this Tribunal includes report and award within the meaning of section 5(2) of the Act; And
II. whether the order of this Tribunal is required to be published by the Central Government to give effect to it;

6.The Supreme Court on 22nd November, 1991 opined on the above questions inter alia that;
i. The order of the Tribunal dated the 25th June, 1991 contains the report and award within the meaning of section 5(2) of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956; And
II. Therefore, in order to give effect to the said Order, it is required to be published by the Central Government in the Official Gazette under section 6 of this Act”;

7.In view thereof, dated the 10th December, 1991 to give effect to the interim order of the CWDT dated 25th June, 1991 and to be made binding on and to be given effect to by the various parties to this dispute Notified in the Gazette of India under section 6 of the ISRWD Act, 1956 and required to be made effective by them.
8.On May 14, 1992, the Government of Tamil Nadu filed Original Case No. 1 of 1992 in the Supreme Court in which they inter alia sought to give effect to the decisions of this Tribunal and to issue notification in the Official Gazette. prayed for passing the necessary degree of ordinance directing the Union Government to frame a scheme making provision for all necessary matters. Original Case No. 1/92 came up for hearing on 9th April, 1997 before the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court. At the behest of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General of India made a statement in the Court on 9th April, 1997 that the Union of India agreed to prepare a scheme under Section 6A of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 for effective implementation of the Interim Award of this Tribunal . After hearing on 9th April, 1997, when the Supreme Court directed the Central Government to prepare a plan, the Supreme Court on 20th August, 1997, 30th September, 1997, 11th November, 1997, 6th January, 1998, 31st March, 1998, Regular hearings were held on 28 April 1998 and 21 July 1998. In view of the above, under the provisions of section 6A of the ISRWD Act, 1956, the Central Government notified a scheme called the Cauvery Water (Implementation of Interim Orders of 1991 and all subsequent Tribunal Orders) Scheme, 1998. It includes Cauvery Water Authority (CRA) and Monitoring Committee (CMC). The Cauvery River Authority is headed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister and has the Chief Ministers of the basin states as members. The Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources is the Secretary of this Authority. The Monitoring Committee has Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources as Chairman and Chief Secretaries and Chief Ministers of Basin States as members.

C. Government policies

D. role of NGOs

E. measures

11. Social Justice

A. Welfare schemes

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY–NRLM)

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) is the flagship program of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) for promoting poverty reduction through building strong institutions for the poor, particularly women, and enabling these institutions to access a range of financial services and livelihoods. DAY-NRLM adopts a demand-driven approach, enabling the States to formulate their own State-specific poverty reduction action plans. The blocks and districts in which all the components of DAY-NRLM would be implemented, either through the SRLMs or partner institutions or NGOs, would be the intensive blocks and districts, whereas the remaining would be non-intensive blocks and districts. National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) is a restructured version of restructuring Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY). NRLM was renamed as DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission) w.e.f. March 29, 2016.

NRLM has set out with an agenda to cover 7 Crore rural poor households, across 600 districts, 6000 blocks, 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats and 6 lakh villages in the country through self-managed Self Help Groups (SHGs) and federated institutions and support them for livelihoods collectives in a period of 8-10 years. In addition, the poor would be facilitated to achieve increased access to their rights, entitlements, and public services, diversified risk, and better social indicators of empowerment. NRLM believes in harnessing the innate capabilities of the poor and complements them with capacities (information, knowledge, skills, tools, finance, and collectivization) to participate in the growing economy of the country.

The Mission

“To reduce poverty by enabling the poor households to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities, resulting in appreciable improvement in their livelihoods on a sustainable basis, through building strong grassroots institutions of the poor.”

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)

A flagship mission implemented by MoHUA, addressing urban housing shortage. The beneficiaries include Economically Weaker Section (EWS) / Low Income Group (LIG) and Middle Income Group (MIG) categories, including slum dwellers, by ensuring a pucca house to all eligible urban households by 2022. All eligible beneficiaries under all components of the scheme should have an Aadhaar/ Aadhaar Virtual ID. The Mission, as per Census 2011, covers the entire urban area consisting of Statutory Towns, Notified Planning Areas, Development Authorities, Special Area Development Authorities, Industrial Development Authorities or any such authority under State legislation which is entrusted with the functions of urban planning & regulations.

The objective of the scheme is to improve the affordability of land and property amidst the continuous surge in prices. PMAY promotes and encourages sustainable and affordable housing. PMAY is a Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) and is also known by the name “Housing for All by 2022”. Individuals availing loans to buy residential property or land or to construct homes would be eligible for interest subsidies on the said credit.

  Slum rehabilitation of eligible Slum Dwellers with participation of private developers using land as a resource.

  Promotion of Affordable Housing through Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS). EWS: Annual Household Income up to Rs.3,00,000; house sizes upto 30 sq.m; LIG: Annual Household Income from Rs.3,00,001 to Rs.6,00,000; house sizes upto 60 sq.m; MIG I: Annual Household Income from Rs. 6,00,001 to Rs. 12,00,000; house sizes upto 160 sq.m; MIG II: Annual Household Income from Rs.12,00,001 and 18,00,000; house sizes upto 200 sq.m

  Affordable Housing in Partnership with Public & Private sectors: Central Assistance per EWS house in projects where 35% of houses are for EWSs

  Subsidy for Beneficiary-Led individual house construction /enhancement: For individuals of EWS category requiring individual house (separate project for such beneficiaries)

B Health

Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP)

Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) was launched by Hon’ble Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare in November 2004 for a period upto March 2010. The project was restructured and extended up to March 2012. The project continues in the 12^th Plan with domestic budget as Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme under NHM for all States with Budgetary allocation of 640 Cr.

A Central Surveillance Unit (CSU) at Delhi, State Surveillance Units (SSU) at all State/UT head quarters and District Surveillance Units (DSU) at all Districts in the country have been established.

 Objectives:

• To strengthen/maintain decentralized laboratory based IT enabled disease surveillance system for epidemic prone diseases to monitor disease trends and to detect and respond to outbreaks in early rising phase through trained Rapid Response Team (RRTs)

Programme Components:

• Integration and decentralization of surveillance activities through establishment of surveillance units at Centre, State and District level.
• Human Resource Development – Training of State Surveillance Officers, District Surveillance Officers, Rapid Response Team and other Medical and Paramedical staff on principles of disease surveillance.
• Use of Information Communication Technology for collection, collation, compilation, analysis and dissemination of data.
• Strengthening of public health laboratories.
• Inter sectoral Co-ordination for zoonotic diseases

Data Management:

Under IDSP data is collected on epidemic prone diseases on weekly basis (Monday–Sunday).  The information is collected on three specified reporting formats, namely “S” (suspected cases), “P” (presumptive cases) and “L” (laboratory confirmed cases) filled by Health Workers, Clinicians and Laboratory staff respectively.  The weekly data gives information on the disease trends and seasonality of diseases.

Whenever there is a rising trend of illnesses in any area, it is investigated by the Rapid Response Teams (RRT) to diagnose and control the outbreak. Data analysis and actions are being undertaken by respective State/District Surveillance Units. In the month of June 2016, about 94% Districts have reported weekly disease surveillance data from districts.

Outbreak Surveillance and Response:

• CSU, IDSP receives disease outbreak reports from the States/UTs on weekly basis. Even NIL weekly reporting is mandated and compilation of disease outbreaks/alerts is done on weekly basis. On an average 30- 35 outbreaks are reported to CSU weekly. A total of 553 outbreaks were reported in 2008, 799 outbreaks in 2009, 990 outbreaks in 2010, 1675 outbreaks in 2011 and 1584 outbreaks in 2012, 1964 outbreaks in 2013, 1562 outbreaks in 2014, 1935 outbreaks in 2015 and 1255 outbreaks reported from 4^th January to 29^th May 2016. Majority of outbreaks reported were of Acute Diarrheal Disease (26%), Chickenpox (21%), Food Poisoning (16%), Dengue (13%), Measles (6%) and Cholera (6%).
• Media scanning is an important component of surveillance to detect the early warning signals. Media scanning and verification cell daily receives an average of 2-3 media alerts of unusual health events which are detected and verified. A total of 3765 health alerts have been detected till 30^th June 2016 since its establishment in July 2008. Majority of them were Acute Diarrheal Disease, Measles and Dengue. A total of 252 media alerts were scanned for any unusual from 1^st January 2016 till 30^th June 2016.

C. Education

D. Human Resources

E. poverty and hunger

12. International relations

A. India and its neighbourhood

B. groupings and agreements

International Sugar Organisation (ISO)

The International Sugar Organization is the unique intergovernmental body devoted to improving conditions on the world’s sugar market through Debate, Analysis, Special Studies, Transparent Statistics, Seminars, Conferences and Workshops. The proactive attitude to include ethanol from sugar crops in our activities already in the mid-90s helped to promote the increasing role of biofuels in the future energy-mix worldwide.

The ISO is based in London, the 87 member states of the ISO represent (based on data for 2022):

• 87% of world sugar production
• 64% of world sugar consumption
• 34% of world imports
• 92% of world exports

The ISO exists to administer the internationally negotiated 1992 International Sugar Agreement (ISA), the objectives of which are: 

• to ensure enhanced international cooperation in connection with world sugar matters and related issues.
• to provide a forum for intergovernmental consultations on sugar and on ways to improve the world sugar economy.
• to facilitate trade by collecting and providing information on the world sugar market and other sweeteners.
• to encourage increased demand for sugar, particularly for non-traditional uses. 

To fulfil these objectives the ISO undertakes many distinct activities:  

• The ISO is the only worldwide forum for the exchange of views by major producing, consuming and trading countries at an intergovernmental level. Council sessions, held twice a year in May and November, afford the opportunity for policy issues to be debated at a multi-lateral level. 
• The ISO contributes significantly to improved market transparency through its long established and widely recognized statistical and analytical activities. The Market Evaluation, Consumption & Statistics Committee (MECAS), also meeting twice a year, allows a serious and in depth debate of the short term market perspective based on the ISO Secretariat’s independent view, longer term perspectives and studies carried out by the Secretariat and others of issues and problems of common interest to members.
  
  
  
• The ISO holds annual Seminars with the objective of increasing knowledge and understanding of the sugar market and related problems. Starting in 1991, ISO Seminars have already established themselves as important and well organized events on the sugar calendar, not only providing a wealth of information but giving the opportunity for decision makers representing growers, processors, trade, governments, banks and press to gather together.
  
  
  
• The ISO holds Workshops on subjects of special interest and importance to the sugar world. Topics covered include: The Implications of the GATT Uruguay/WTO Round for Sugar, Alcohol & the Environment; Alternative Uses of Sugar and By-products; Alternative Uses of Bagasse, Developments, Opportunities in Sugar Technology (beet/cane) and Diversification; World Market Situation and Impact of Latin America on Sugar Markets; Cogeneration, RTAs, Alternative Sweeteners, Prices/Exchange Rates, Futures, Freight Rates, Consumption Patterns.
  
  
  

The ISO will continue to grow its activities. Expanding from its traditional areas of sugar statistics, short and long term forecasting and market analysis, the ISO is tackling issues like sugar and health, sugar and the environment, fortification of sugar with Vitamin A, Organic Sugar and the promotion of sugar. Product coverage has been expanded to deal with related or associated products like alcohol, molasses and alternative sweeteners, both calorific and non-calorific, biofuels, Carbon Credit Trading. 

C.Indian diaspora

13. Economic Development

A. Government Budgeting

B. industrial

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act passed by the Parliament in December, 1985. The Act (2 of 1986) came into effect from 13th February, 1986 by a notification issued in the Gazette of India: Extraordinary: Part-II [Sec. 3(ii): 13.2.1986). The Authority replaced the Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC).

 FUNCTIONS

In accordance with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985, (2 of 1986) the following functions have been assigned to the Authority.

• Development of industries relating to the scheduled products for export by way of providing financial assistance or otherwise for undertaking surveys and feasibility studies, participation in enquiry capital through joint ventures and other reliefs and subsidy schemes;
• Registration of persons as exporters of the scheduled products on payment of such fees as may be prescribed;
• Fixing of standards and specifications for the scheduled products for the purpose of exports;
• Carrying out inspection of meat and meat products in slaughter houses, processing plants, storage premises, conveyances or other places where such products are kept or handled for the purpose of ensuring the quality of such products;
• Improving of packaging of the Scheduled products;
• Improving of marketing of the Scheduled products outside India;
• Promotion of export oriented production and development of the Scheduled products;
• Collection of statistics from the owners of factories or establishments engaged in the production, processing, packaging, marketing or export of the scheduled products or from such other persons as may be prescribed on any matter relating to the scheduled products and publication of the statistics so collected or of any portions thereof or extracts there from;
• Training in various aspects of the industries connected with the scheduled products;
• Such other matters as may be prescribed.

National Gopal Ratna Awards

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupalawill confer the National Gopal Ratna Awards on 26^th November 2023 at Veterinary College Ground, Guwahati, Assam. Chief Minister, Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan will also be present in the award ceremony. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is organizing National Gopal Ratna Award 2023 as a part of National Milk Day celebration 2023.         

National Gopal Ratna Award  is one of the highest National Awards in the field of livestock and dairy sector, with an objective to recognize and encourage all individuals like Farmers rearing indigenous animals, AI Technicians and Dairy cooperative societies / Milk Producer Company/Dairy farmers Producers Organizations working in this sector. The Award is conferred in three categories, namely,

1. Best Dairy Farmer Rearing Indigenous Cattle/buffalo Breeds,
2. Best Dairy Cooperative/ Milk Producer Company/ Dairy Farmer Producer Organization).
3. Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) and

CREDIT GUARANTEE FUND SCHEME FOR MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES

The Board of Trustees of Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), had framed a Scheme for the purpose of providing guarantees in respect of credit facilities extended by Lending Institutions to the borrowers in Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). The details of the Scheme are given below:

1. Title and date of commencement

(i) The Scheme shall be known as the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGS-I) [earlier known as Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Small Industries (CGFSI)]. Subsequent to the enactment of MSMED Act-2006, the Trust was renamed as Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises and scheme as Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises. (ii) The Scheme had come into force from August 1, 2000 and had covered eligible credit facilities extended by the lending institutions to eligible borrowers effective from June 1, 2000. (iii) The scheme was modified from time to time for ease of operations, enhancement of credit flow to MSE sector and to meet the requirements of the MSEs as well as Lending Institutions. The current document /scheme is updated as on January 10, 2023.

National Metallurgist Award 2022 

 National Metallurgist Award (NMA) 2022 on 22 November, 2023, Sh. Faggan Singh Kulaste, Union Minister of State for Steel & Rural Development, Government of India congratulated the five distinguished metallurgists for being conferred with coveted NMA 2022 in four categories.

E.issues

14. Technology

 

15. Environment

As fireworks light up night sky, air pollution spikes to 120 times WHO limit

16. Security

INDIA- NEPAL JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE SURYA KIRAN- XVII COMMENCES AT PITHORAGARH

The Nepal Army contingent comprising of 334 personnel arrived in India to participate in 17^th edition of Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN. The exercise will be conducted in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand from 24^th November to 07^th December 2023. It is an annual event and conducted alternatively in the two countries.

The Indian Army contingent comprising of 354 personnel is being led by a Battalion from the KUMAON Regiment. The Nepal Army contingent is represented by Tara Dal Battalion.

Aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter terrorism operations in mountainous terrain and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief under United Nations Charter on peace keeping operations. The exercise will focus on employment of drones and counter drone measures, medical training, aviation aspects and also environment conservation. Through these activities, the troops will enhance their operational capabilities, refine their combat skills and strengthen their coordination in challenging situations.

 The exercise will provide a platform for soldiers from India and Nepal to exchange ideas and experiences; share best practices and foster a deeper understanding of each other’s operational procedures.

Exercise SURYA KIRAN signifies the strong bonds of friendship, trust, common cultural linkages that exist between India and Nepal. It sets the stage for a productive and fruitful engagement, showcasing the unwavering commitment of both nations towards a broader defence cooperation. The exercise aims to achieve shared security objectives and foster bilateral relations between two friendly neighbours.

17. Disaster Management

Reflection of Earthquake Source Process in the Ionosphere could pave way for deciphering earthquake precursors using space-based observations

Earthquake processes, even relatively smaller ones, have their reflection in the ionosphere, as they influence the amplitudes and periods of coseismic ionospheric perturbations (CIP) along with factors such as geomagnetism and line-of-sights geometry, according to a novel study. The finding can help observing earthquake source processes from the space which may pave the way for deciphering earthquake precursors using space-based observations.

Coseismic vertical crustal movements excite acoustic waves (AWs) in the atmosphere. The waves propagate upward, reach the ionosphere, causing disturbances in numbers of electrons along the line-of-sights connecting ground Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers and satellites. These disturbances are called as coseismic ionospheric perturbations (CIP). Such near-field CIP occurs normally within 500–600 km of the source. Most of the past studies assumed point sources at the maximum vertical displacements for direct AWs and such near-fieldCIP had been modeled by assuming single acoustic pulse from the surface. However, large earthquakes involve ruptures of multiple fault segments spanning hundreds of kilometres and for such great earthquakes; such a single source assumption may become inappropriate.

Scientists from Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), an autonomous institution of Department of Science and Technology, in their attempt to verify this assumption for relatively small earthquakes, (less than 8 Mw) analysed near-field CIP of 2023 February Turkey Earthquakes. They demonstrated for the first time, that ionospheric perturbations generated by relatively small earthquakes could also contain contributions from multiple sources along the fault.  On 6 February 2023, a devastating earthquake of Mw 7.8 (EQ1) occurred in southern Turkey near the Turkey-Syria border, one of the largest strike-slip events recorded on land. Around 9 hrs later an earthquake of Mw 7.7 (EQ2) occurred to the north of EQ1. Studying CIP generated by EQ1 and EQ2, the study published in Geophysical Research Letters, showed for the first time that CIP shows variety of amplitudes and periods for different satellite-station pairs due to combinations of sub-CIPs from multiple sources with different time lags.

They elaborated that interference of acoustic waves (AWs) from these multiple sources makes differences in the perturbations amplitudes and periods at Global Navigation satellite System (GNSS) stations in different azimuths from the epicentre.

Demonstrating that the CIP of EQ2 has much larger amplitude and slightly shorter period than EQ1 the scientists explained these differences assuming a single source and higher background ionospheric electron densities.