Celebrated on 28 September.

• Aim : to raise awareness about rabies and how to prevent it.
• Theme : “Breaking Rabies Boundaries”
• The day also honors Louis Pasteur, the French chemist and microbiologist who developed the first rabies vaccine.

Celebrated on 26 September.

• Theme : Navigating the future: safety first.
• Aim : to provide an opportunity to draw people’s attention to the importance of shipping and other maritime activities across the globe.

Current Context : India is now the 3rd most powerful nation in Asia (2024 Asia Power Index), surpassing Japan, with the US and China occupying the top two spots.

ASIA POWER INDEX OVERVIEW:

• Launched by the Lowy Institute.
• It measures power dynamics of 27 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Parameters Assessed :

• Military capability and defense networks
• Economic capability and relationships
• Diplomatic and cultural influence
• Resilience and future resources

India’s Growth Drivers:

• Economic growth
• Military modernisation
• Diplomatic influence
• Technological advancements
• Cultural soft power

Japan’s Decline Reasons:

• Slow population growthand stagnant economy
• Limited military expansion
• Reserved political stance affecting global influence.

Current Context : India has developed its first CO2-to-methanol pilot plant at Pune.

Aim : to advance Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technologies, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable practices and carbon emission reduction.

• Location & Capacity: at Pune, has a capacity to process 1.4 tonnes of CO2 per day and converts it into methanol.
• Key Stakeholders: Jointly developed by IIT Delhi and Thermax Limited under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), with strong support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• Budget : Estimated project cost is ₹31 crore, funded by DST under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• Significance: The plant serves as a transformative platform for indigenous carbon capture technologies and potential scale-up for future applications.

Current Context : EAM Jaishankar meets G4 foreign ministers at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly to assess the state of play and discuss prospects for a reform of the United Nations Security Council.

About G4 :

• Members : Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan.
• Objective: To achieve permanent seats for all four countries on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and comprehensive reforms to make the UNSC more representative.

Current Context :  Recently, Mankidia community becomes 6th PVTG to get Habitat Rights over forests in Odisha.

Odisha’s PVTG Demographics:

• Home to 13 PVTGs, the highest among Indian states, inhabiting 1,683 villages in 14 districts.
• Population: 7,73,092 in 1,79,742 households, according to the SCSTRTI report.

Approval for Other PVTGs in Odisha:

• Habitat rights granted to six PVTGs: Paudi Bhuyan, Juang, Saora, Chuktia Bhunjia, Hill Khadia, and Mankidia.
• Odisha leads in recognizing habitat rights for the highest number of PVTGs among all Indian states.

ABOUT MANKIDIA TRIBE :

• Ethnic Identity: The Mankidia belong to the Austro-Asiatic group and are a semi-nomadic segment of the Birhor tribe recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in
• Livelihood:
• Primarily engaged in food gathering, hunting, and forest-based activities.
• Known as one of the least-studied forest-dwelling and wandering communities in India.
• Habitat and Lifestyle : Live in small groups in temporary settlements called Tandas.
• Kumbhas are their temporary dome-shaped huts made from leaves.

• Language : Munda language; some are also familiar with Odia. 

Beliefs and Worship:

• Reverence for both benevolent and malevolent spirits, with Logobir and Budhimai as their primary deities.
• Ancestor worship is practiced for health, success in hunting, and forest-based prosperity.
• Geographical Distribution: Predominantly found in Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.

Current Context : Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, achieved a 100-Day Target of 100 Nagar Vans under Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) with the objective to Enhance Urban Greenery.

• Launch : Initiated in 2020 by the Government of India to enhance urban green cover.
• Objective: Develop urban forests for improving quality of life and combating environmental issues like air pollution and heat island effect.
• Original target: Establish 100 urban forests in the first 100 days.
• Achievement: Approved 111 Nagar Vans across 6 states and 1 union territory.
• Budget : Government allocates ₹4 lakh per hectare for the creation and upkeep of these forests.
• Coverage : Forests range between 10 to 50 hectares based on city size.

Special Features:

• Biodiversity Parks:Preserve local flora and fauna.
• Smriti Vans:Plant trees in memory of individuals.
• Butterfly Conservatories:Attract and protect butterfly species.
• Herbal Gardens:Cultivate medicinal plants.
• Matri Vans:Trees planted under “Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam” (A Tree in Mother’s Name) initiative.

Current Context : Air Marshal SP Dharkar appointed as the next Vice Chief of Air Staff, succeeding Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh.

• He was commissioned in June 1985.
• He is a Qualified Flying Instructor, Fighter Strike Leader, Instrument Rating Instructor & Examiner, and Air Force Examiner.

Observed annually on September 27.

• Aim : to raise awareness about the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value.
• Theme : Tourism and Peace.

Current Context : Recently, the fifth edition of Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) 2024 was hosted by the Indian Navy from 23-24 September 24 under the aegis of Naval War College, Goa.

• Goa Maritime Symposium is a forum for fostering collaborative thinking, cooperation, and mutual understanding between India and key maritime nations of the Indian Ocean Region.
• Theme of the event : Common Maritime Security Challenges in the IOR – Progressing Lines of Effort to Mitigate Dynamic Threats such as illegal and unregulated fishing and other illegal maritime activities.
• Participant nations from 12 Indian Ocean Littoral countries include : Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, the Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Observers from Kenya and Tanzania.