• Transparency International unveiled the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), disclosing a list of the world’s most corrupt countries.
• The report highlighted minimal progress in addressing public sector corruption, as the global average for CPI remained stagnant at 43 for the twelfth consecutive year.
• Over two-thirds of the 180 ranked countries scored below 50 on the scale, indicating a prevalence of corruption.
• The CPI evaluates nations based on their perceived levels of public sector corruption, ranging from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
• Rankings
  • Denmark secures the top position on the index with a score of 90 due to its “well-functioning justice systems”.
  • Finland and New Zealand hold the second and third positions with scores of 87 and 85, respectively.
  • Taking the bottom spots in the index are Somalia (11), Venezuela (13), Syria (13), South Sudan (13), and Yemen (16).
• In the CPI, India secured the 93^rd position with a score of 39, according to the Transparency International report.
  • India’s overall score remained relatively stable, as it was 40 in 2022, securing the 85th position.

• Field Marshal K.M Cariappa’s birth anniversary is celebrated annually on January 28^th.

ABOUT K.M CARIAPPA

• Field Marshal Kodandera ‘Kipper’ Madappa Cariappa, often referred to as K.M. Cariappa, was an Indian military officer who served as the first Indian Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army from 1949 to 1953.
• He was born on 28 January 1899, in Coorg, which is now part of Karnataka.
• Cariappa joined the British Indian Army in 1919 and was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion, 88th Carnatic Infantry.
• He served in various roles and saw action during World War II.
• He rose through the ranks, displaying leadership and tactical skills.
• In 1947, when India gained independence, Cariappa was promoted to the rank of major general and appointed as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
• His tenure as Chief of Army Staff began in 1949 when he succeeded General Sir Robert Lockhart.
• Cariappa played a crucial role in the integration of princely states into the Indian Union and also contributed to the modernisation and professionalisation of the Indian Army in its formative years.
• In recognition of his services, he was awarded the prestigious title of Field Marshal on January 15^th, 1986, becoming the first Indian Army officer to hold this rank.
• Other awards include-
  • Order of the Chief Commander of the Legion Merit in 1949 by US President.
  • Order of the British Empire for his role in World War II.
• He passed away on 15^th May, 1993.

Facts

• Army Day is celebrated on 15^th January every year in India
• It is observed in recognition of Lieutenant General Kodandera M. Cariappa’s taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Francis Roy Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15^th January 1949.

• As per Ministry of Culture, ‘Maratha Military Landscapes’ representing extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers will be India’s nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the 2024-25 cycle.
• The ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ was included in the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2021.
• The twelve components of this nomination are— Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohgad, Khanderi Fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijay Durg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and Gingee fort in Tamil Nadu.
• This extraordinary network of forts, varying in hierarchies, scales and typological features, is a result of integrating the landscape, terrain and physiographic characteristics distinctive to the Sahyadri mountain ranges, the Konkan Coast, Deccan Plateau and the Eastern Ghats in the Indian Peninsula.
• There are more than 390 forts in Maharashtra, out of which only 12 forts are selected under the ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’, and eight of these forts are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• The inception of the Maratha military ideology dates back to the 17th century during the reign of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by 1670 and continued through subsequent rules until Peshwa rule till 1818.
• ‘Maratha Military Landscapes’ nomination is in the category of cultural property.

OTHER FACTS

• At present, there are 42 World Heritage Sites in India, out of which 34 are cultural sites, seven are natural sites whereas one is mixed site.
• In Maharashtra, six sites have a UNESCO tag— five cultural and one natural.
• These are
  • Ajanta Caves,
  • Ellora Caves,
  • Elephanta Caves,
  • Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus),
  • Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai, and
  • Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala is serial property in natural category.

• The fourth edition of the annual Orange Festival began at Local ground Rusoma village in Kohima, Nagaland.
• Theme of the two-day festival is “Organic Orange”.

• Ajit Mishra, a prominent India-born lawyer in the UK, has been conferred the prestigious “Freedom of the City of London Award” for his outstanding contribution to legal and public life.
• The award, given by the City of London Corporation, dates back to the 13th century and is bestowed upon individuals who make outstanding contributions to London and public life.
• Mishra is the Founder and Chair of UK India Legal Partnership (UKILP).
  • UKILP, founded by Mishra, is a dynamic networking platform which is rapidly gaining prominence as a leading hub for senior lawyers fostering connections between the legal communities of India and the UK.
  • Established with the primary goal of enhancing understanding and collaboration within the common law system, this platform stands out for its inclusive ethos, actively dedicated to promoting the rights of women and young lawyers in the legal sector.

• In a major boost of ties the militaries of India and Saudi Arabia are conducting their first Joint Military Exercise named as Sada Tanseeq.
• The inaugural edition of India-Saudi Arabia Joint Military Exercise ‘Sada Tanseeq’ commenced at Mahajan, Rajasthan.
• The Saudi Arabian contingent comprising 45 personnel is being represented by Royal Saudi Land Forces.
• The Indian Army contingent also comprising 45 personnel is being represented by a Battalion from the Brigade of the Guards (Mechanised Infantry).

• India’s Newspaper Day is celebrated every year on 28^th January to commemorate the launch of the country’s first newspaper in 1780.
• Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, also known as the Calcutta General Advertiser, was the name of the first weekly publication.
• James Augustus Hicky is known as the “father of the Indian press”.
• The newspaper carried articles criticising General Hastings for all his transgressions.
  • It made a lot of noise about freedom of speech in India and was relentless in its criticism.
  • In 1782, however, the British decided to stop printing it.

• The Odisha government announced the launch of LABHA (‘Laghu Bana Jatya Drabya Kraya’) Yojana, a 100% State-funded minimum support price (MSP) scheme for minor forest produce (MFP).
• The decision is likely to impact the State’s large tribal population, which numbers close to one crore or 23% of Odisha’s total population.
• From now on, the MSP of MFP will be determined every year by the State government.
• Under the scheme, a primary collector (a tribal person) will be able to sell the MFP, collected at the procurement centres by the Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation Limited of Odisha (TDCCOL), at the MSP.

FACTS

• Odisha is home to 62 distinct tribes, including 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), showcasing one of the most diverse tribal landscapes in the country.
• It ranks as the third largest concentration of a tribal population, trailing behind Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

• The International Health Regulations National Focal Point (IHR NFP) in Argentina has alerted the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) of a human case of Western Equine Encephalitis Virus (WEEV) infection.

ABOUT WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS

• Western Equine Encephalitis is a mosquito-borne infection caused by the Western Equine Encephalitis Virus (WEEV), which belongs to the Togaviridae family of viruses.
• The virus has an approximately 11.5 kilobases long single-stranded RNA genome and is a recombinant of the eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) and a Sindbis-like virus.
• Passerine birds are thought to be the reservoir and equine species as intermediate hosts.
• The primary mode of transmission of the infection to humans is through mosquitoes which act as vectors for the virus.
• While most of the infections are asymptomatic, the infection may lead to severe consequences in rare cases.
• An estimated 4-5% of cases may manifest as infection/inflammation of the brain, resulting in neurological symptoms.
• With no specific antiviral treatment, symptomatic care is crucial, especially for neurologic symptoms.

• Dr Nitya Anand, who discovered India’s first oral contraceptive pill ‘Saheli’, passed away recently.
• Anand was also the former director of the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) from 1974 to 1984.
  • He was with CDRI since its inception in 1951.
• He published over 400 research papers and over 130 patents.
• He was also awarded with Padma Shri.
• He was the brain behind the discovery of Centchroman’, popularly known as ‘Saheli.’
  • It was the world’s first and only non-steroidal, non-hormonal, once-a-week oral contraceptive pill.
  • It was launched by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1986.
  • In 2016, Saheli was incorporated in the National Family Programme of India.
  • Even today, it is the only non-steroidal non-hormonal contraceptive in the world.