Celebrated annually on 5 October.

• Aim : to celebrate all teachers around the globe.
• Theme : “Valuing teachers’ voices: towards a new social contract for education”.

Celebrated every year on October 4^th.

• It is also known as World Animal Day or World Animal Protection Day.
• Aim : To raise awareness and promote the protection of animals, including pets, farm animals, and wildlife.
• Theme : The world is their home too.

Current Context : The famous Dal Lake of Dharamsala has started drying up once again. Due to the loss of water in the lake, the fish in it is dying.

ABOUT DAL LAKE

• Location: Situated at 1,775 meters above sea level, about 11 km from Dharamshala, district Kangra in Himachal Pradesh.
• Area : The lake covers an area of about 1.22 hectare (10,000 square meters).
• Surroundings: Nestled among deodar forests with views of the Dhauladhar mountain range.
• Cultural Significance: Features a small Shiva Temple on its banks, considered sacred by locals. An annual fair in September attracts visitors and celebrates the lake’s cultural heritage.

Current Context : The central government has introduced the Jal Hi AMRIT scheme.

• It is an Initiative Under AMRUT 2.0 launched to enhance the quality of treated wastewater and encourage its recycling in urban areas.
• Goal: To motivate States and Union Territories to effectively manage sewage treatment plants (STPs) to produce high-quality recycled water.

KEY FEATURES:

• Clean Water Credit System: Encourages competition among cities by awarding Clean Water Credits based on the quality of treated water.
• Star-Rating System: STPs will receive star ratings (from 3 to 5 stars) for their performance, with certificates valid for six months.
• Performance-Based Incentives: STPs will receive rewards based on their star ratings and Clean Water Credits.

ABOUT AMRUT 2.0:

• Ministry Involved: Managed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• Duration: Launched in 2021 and will run for five years.

Objectives:

• Ensure every household in statutory towns has access to water supply through functional taps.
• Expand septage management in 500 cities from the first phase of the AMRUT scheme.
• Background: AMRUT 1.0 was introduced in 2015 to provide basic civic amenities like water supply, sewage management, and stormwater drainage in selected cities​

Current Context : The Ministry of Tourism in Government of India announced the winners of the Best Tourism Villages Competition 2024 on the occasion of World Tourism Day 2024.

ABOUT

• The annual Best Tourism Villages Competition, organised by the Ministry of Tourism.
• Aim : to recognise and honour villages that exemplify the qualities of an outstanding rural tourism destination.
• It showcases the renowned cultural and natural assets, preserves and promotes community-based values, goods, and lifestyles of the villages in India.
• It promotes the commitment of the villages towards sustainability in all of its aspects – economic, social, and environmental.
• The first edition of the Best Tourism Villages Competition in 2023 saw applications from 795 villages.

CATEGORIES:

The award has been given into a total of 8 different categories.

1. Adventure Tourism Category
2. Agri-Tourism Category
3. Community-Based Tourism Category
4. Craft  Category
5. Heritage Category
6. Responsible Tourism Category
7. Spiritual and Wellness Category

Vibrant Village Category

Current Context : Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Shri. Nitin Gadkari, inaugurated Oxygen Bird Park (Amrit Mahotsav Park) in Maharashtra.

ABOUT

• Oxygen Bird Park (Amrit Mahotsav Park) is an eco-initiative developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
• Location: Situated on the Nagpur-Hyderabad National Highway-44near Jamtha, Nagpur, Maharashtra.
• Area: Covers 8.23 hectares, with 2.5 hectares dedicated to social forestry.
• Aim : Designed as a bird habitat and recreational space for locals and tourists, promoting environmental sustainability.

FEATURES:

• Fast-growing trees that produce oxygen to help reduce air pollution and promote a healthier environment.
• Bird Habitat: Designed to replicate natural ecosystems, supporting the conservation of local and migratory bird species.
• Tree Preservation: Focuses on protecting rare and endangered tree species native to Central India, such as the Vulnerable Indian Bael, Gum Karaya, and the Endangered Yellow Flame of the Forest.
• Water Features: Includes a pond with lotus and lily pads, a reed bed for natural water filtration, and plantations of bamboo and palm trees.
• Social Forestry Area: Part of the park is allocated for social forestry, which involves planting trees on unused land in various configurations​

Current Context : Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has taken command of the International Space Station (ISS) and is leading the orbiting laboratory for the second time.

• NASA has announced that Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has handed over the command of the ISS to Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams .

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 

• The ISS program involves international crews, multiple launch vehicles, and extensive cooperation between research communities across the globe.
• It is a joint project of NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA.
• The ISS conducts experiments in various fields like biology, physics, and astronomy that would be impossible on Earth due to gravity.
• Orbit: The ISS orbits Earth at an altitude of 400 km (248 miles).

Current Context : Recently a study reviled that China’s Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric project in the world, doesn’t just generate immense power  it might also affect Earth’s rotation.

ABOUT

• Location: Situated on the Yangtze River in Hubei Province, China.
• Completion: Finished in 2012after almost 20 years of construction.
• Size: World’s largest dam, spanning 2,335 meters long and 185 meters
• Electricity Generation: Produces up to 22,500 megawatts of power, serving millions.
• Benefits: Helps with flood control and improves river navigation.
• Environmental & Social Impact: Displaced 3 million people and submerged 632 square kilometers of land, affecting ecosystems and wildlife.

How does the dam impact Earth’s rotation?

According to a geophysicist of Nasa, the dam’s massive reservoir holds enough water to shift the distribution of Earth’s mass. This is based on the principle of moment of inertia, which governs how the distribution of mass affects an object’s rotational speed.

Current Context : Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched ‘Cruise Bharat Mission’ from the Mumbai Port.

• The mission has been initiated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• Goal: to make India a global center for cruise tourism and establish it as a top cruise destination worldwide. Specific targets include:
• Doubling Cruise Passenger Traffic: From 6 lakh passengers in 2024 to a higher number by 2029.
• Increasing Cruise Calls: Growing from 254 cruise calls in 2024to 500 by 2030.

Implementation Phases:

• Phase 1 (2024-2025): Establish partnerships with neighboring countries.
• Phase 2 (2025-2027): Build new cruise terminals and develop new cruise destinations.
• Phase 3 (2027-2029): Connect all cruise routes across the Indian subcontinent.

Cruise Segments:

• Ocean & Harbour Cruises: Includes deep-sea and coastal cruises, as well as yachting.
• River & Inland Cruises: Focuses on cruises on rivers, canals, and lakes.
• Island Cruises: Features tours between islands and visits to lighthouses.

Significance:

• Expected to generate 4 lakh jobs in the cruise sector.
• Aims to promote the rich cultural, historical, and natural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.
• Plans to develop world-class infrastructure that will also support maritime trade.

Current Context : On the occasion of World Tourism Day, the Ministry of Tourism has launched a national responsible tourism initiative titled Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi.

ABOUT

• Launched by the Ministry of Tourism on World Tourism Day to promote responsible tourism.
• Objective: Improve tourist experiences by connecting them with trained locals (Paryatan Mitra/Didi) who act as local ambassadors and storytellers.
• Training: Participants learn about tourism, safety, hospitality, sustainability, and local culture, guided by the ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’
• Local Engagement: Encourages locals to take pride in their heritage and share their region’s history and culture with tourists.
• Pilot Success: Since August 15, about 3,000 locals across six destinations have completed their training and are now welcoming tourists.