Current context : Recently, Oxford University has agreed to return a 500-year-old bronze sculpture of a Hindu poet and saint to India.

• The 60 cm-tall statue of Saint Tirumankai Alvar was acquired by the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford from Sotheby’s auction house in 1967.

ABOUT

• Thirumangai Alvar, also known as Thirumangai Mannan is the last of the 12 Alvar saints of south India.
• He is known for their affiliation to the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism.
• He is considered one of the most learned Alvars and the most superior Alvar in the context of composition of
• He holds the title Narkavi Perumal, the mark of an excellent poet.
• A temple was dedicated to Thirumangai in Hampi Vitthala temple complex.

Current Context : Assam Government launched ‘Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina’ (MMNM) scheme to Empower Girl Students.

Objective : to Combat Child Marriage and Support Education for Nearly 10 Lakh Girls by providing monetary assistance.

• The main focus of the scheme is preventing child marriage. However, the scheme is not available to married girls up to degree level.
• Under MMNM scheme girls enrolled in higher secondary first year will receive 1,000.
• Girls enrolled in three-year or four-year degree courses will receive 1,200 per month.
• Post-degree and B.Ed. students will be granted 2500 per month.

Current context : Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 17^th installment amount of the PM Kisan Nidhi program.

• It will benefit around 3 crore farmers with amount ₹20, 000 crore .

ABOUT

• The scheme provides income assistance of ₹6,000 per year to all landholding farmer families in the country for financial requirements in agricultural and allied activity inputs.
• The money is given in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 every four months directly into the beneficiary’s bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer.
• It was launched in February 2019.
• It is a central government scheme.

Current context : Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Italy to attend the annual G7 summit of advanced economies.

• The G7 summit will take place at the Apulia region of Italy from June 13 to 15.
• This marks India’s eleventh participation in the G7 summit and Modi’s fifth consecutive attendance.

ABOUT

• The G7 (Group of Seven) comprises the US, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan.
• European Union is not a member of the G7, although it attends the annual summit.
• Italy is the current chairing country of G7
• Presidency of G7 rotates annually among the member states.

Current context : Centre has approved the Uttarakhand government’s proposal to rename Joshimath tehsil in Chamoli district as Jyotirmath, and Kosiyakutoli tehsil in Nainital district as Pargana Shri Kainchi Dham.

ABOUT JOSHIMATH

• Jyotirmath named after Adi Guru Shankaracharya visited it in the 8th century to perform penance under the Amar Kalpa tree and attained enlightenment (Divya Gyan Jyoti).
• Joshimath is also near to Vishnu Prayag where Alkananda and Dhauli Ganga river merge.

Current context : Recently, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N Chandrababu Naidu took oath as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

• It will be the fourth term in the post as a Chief Minister.

ABOUT ANDHRA PRADESH

• Andhra Pradesh is a state in the southern coastal region of India.
• It shares borders with Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the Bay of Bengal.
• Founded: 1 November 1956
• Capital: Amaravati
• Area : 162,970 km²

Current context : Indian Navy’s INS Shivalik arrived at Yokosuka, Japan to participate in the bilateral Japan – India Maritime Exercise 2024 (JIMEX 24).

• This is the eighth edition of JIMEX, since its inception in
• The exercise will include both harbour and sea phases.
• In exercise both nation will jointly hone their war fighting skills at sea and enhance their interoperability through complex multi-discipline operations in the surface, sub-surface and air domains.

Celebrated on 14 June

• Theme : thank you blood donors.
• Objective: to raise awareness about the importance of donating blood and supporting communities.
• In 2005, The World Health Assembly announced June 14 to be observed as World Blood Donor Day every year.
• Health Benefits of donating Blood
  • Reduce risk of heart attacks
  • Enhance the immune system
  • Minimize iron overload

Current Context : Recently, State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report is released.

• It is prepared and released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
• Report specially focused on “Blue Transformation in Action”.

RELEVANT FACTS:

• In 2022, global fisheries and aquaculture production raised to 223.2 million tonnes by increasing 4 percent from the year 2020.
• Production comprised 4 million tonnes of aquatic animals and 37.8 million tonnes of algae.
• India ranked second in aquatic animals’ production with 8 percent of total production.
• India ranked first in Inland fisheries with 1.9 million tonnes production.

BLUE TRANSFORMATION IN ACTION

• FAO introduced its “Blue Transformation” vision in 2021.
• It aims to leverage aquatic food systems, to enhance food security, improve nutrition, etc.

Current Context : Visakhapatnam Port has secured position in top 20 in the Container Port Performance Index 2023 (CPPI 2023).

• Index is developed by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence.

ABOUT INDEX AND PORT :

• The Index is a comparable assessment of performance based on vessel time in port.
• Aim : to identify areas for enhancement for the benefit of multiple stakeholder in the global trading system and supply chains, from ports to shipping lines, national governments, and consumers.
• Visakhapatnam Port ranked 19 is higher than Mundra Port (ranked 27 run by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ).
• It is managed by J M Baxi Ports & Logistics.
• China’s Yangshan Port ranked 1^st for the second consecutive year, while Oman’s Port of Salalah retained the 2^nd