• The construction of a large number of hydropower projects leading to environmental degradation, climate change, increasing landslides and frequent road blockades are the major poll issues in the reserved Kinnaur Assembly constituency, bordering Tibet.
• The construction of hydropower projects has resulted in climate change and incidents of cracks developing on the walls of houses in nearby villages due to digging for tunnels, says RS Negi, convener of the Him Lok Jagriti Manch, a retired IAS officer.
• In 2018, the state government gave the approval to set up the 804-megawatt Jangi-Thopan Powari Hydro Electric Project, which has become a major point of discontentment among the locals with campaigns protesting against hydel projects in their area.
• People are also upset over sloppy implementation of the Forests Right Act (FRA) and an inordinate delay in the grant of ‘nautor’ land.
• The process of giving land on lease under the Forest Rights Act has been initiated as per the 2002 list but still over 6,600 cases are pending. Other issues are bad roads, drying up of springs, impact of climate change on crops, especially apple, and drug abuse among the youth.
• This tribal constituency has produced the maximum number of civil services officers in proportion to population. The electorate here is politically mature and quite capable of gauging the mood of the nation.
• Kinnaur remains snowbound during the winter and elections in the constituency were traditionally held in May or June, after the government had already been formed.

• World Polio Day 2022 is observed every year on October 24 to raise awareness about the polio vaccination and eradication of polio from every corner of the world. The day is observed to commemorate the progress made by the world towards polio eradication.
• The day to raise awareness of the importance of polio vaccination to protect every child from this devastating disease, and to celebrate the many parents, professionals and volunteers whose contributions make polio eradication achievable.

Theme:

• This year, the overarching theme of World Polio Day is “World Polio Day 2022 and Beyond: A healthier future for mothers and children” The theme urges the world to acknowledge the progress made in the battle to eradicate polio in children and the work to provide a healthier future for mothers.

History:

• World Polio Day was established in 1985 by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who was the lead medical researcher of the team that developed a vaccine against polio. He developed the inactivated poliovirus vaccine, which first came into use in 1955.
• This was further developed as the oral polio vaccine by Albert Sabin, which came into use in 1961. Today, the polio vaccines are recommended all over the world, particularly for children under the age of five, who are the most vulnerable to the infection.

• The recent sighting of three Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) deep in Pakistan’s Cholistan desert has given rise to speculation that it might have flown across the international border from India’s Desert National Park (DNP).

About Great Indian Bustards:

• Science Name : Ardeotis nigriceps
• It is one of the rarest birds in the world and is the State bird of Rajasthan
• Its population of about 150 in Rajasthan accounts for 95% of its total world population.

Habitat:

• It inhabits arid and semi-arid grasslands with scattered short scrub, bushes and low intensity cultivation in flat or gently undulating terrain.
• Birds congregate in traditional less disturbed grassland patches to breed during mid-summer and monsoon.

Conservation Efforts:

• It is listed as Critically Endangered because it has an extremely small population that has undergone an extremely rapid decline owing to a multitude of threats including habitat loss and degradation, hunting and direct disturbance.
• It is listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby, according to its highest degree of legal protection from hunting.

Objective:

• To make available quality medicines, consumables and surgical items at affordable prices for all and reduce out of pocket expenditure of consumers/patients.
• To popularize generic medicines among the masses and eliminate the notion that low priced generic medicines are of inferior quality or are less effective.
• Generate employment by engaging individual entrepreneurs in the opening of JanaushadhiKendras.

Implementing Agency:

• Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) is the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
• PMBI was established in December, 2008 under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India.

History:

• Jan Aushadhi Scheme was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in 2008 across the country.
• In 2015, the Jan Aushadhi Scheme was revamped as Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY).
• In 2016, it was again renamed as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

• Disarmament Week is celebrated from October 24 to 30 each year. One of the key goals of the United Nations is to achieve world peace. To that end, the organisation marks October 24 to October 30 as Disarmament Week each year. Disarmament Week seeks to promote awareness and a better understanding of disarmament issues and their cross-cutting importance.
• In the week, there would be an extensive discussion about safeguarding people from the dangers of guns. Countries have been observing disarmament week each year in an effort to create a more secure and safe world. In order to reduce crises and violent conflicts around the world, the UN has been instrumental in the disarmament of nuclear weapons.

History:

• Starting on 24 October, the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, the week-long annual observance was first called for in the Final Document of the General Assembly’s 1978 special session on disarmament (resolution S-10/2). In 1995, the General Assembly invited governments, as well as NGOs, to continue taking an active part in Disarmament Week (resolution 50/72 B, 12 December 1995) in order to promote a better understanding among the public of disarmament issues.
• The United Nations Disarmament Commission (UNDC) was established in 1952. It was tasked with creating proposal documents for treaties to regulate and reduce the number of armed forces and weapons possessed by nations.

• The Indian space agency is having a busy launch schedule next year that includes commercial, navigation, sun and moon missions, said a top official.
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath said integration tests are happening with regard to the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft.
• He said the space agency will look at June 2023 for the moon mission.
• The ISRO is also planning to have its mission to the sun with its satellite Aditya-L1, a coronagraphy spacecraft to study the solar atmosphere.
• According to ISRO, the spacecraft will be placed in a halo orbit around the first Lagrange point, L1, of the Sun-Earth system. A satellite around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without occultation/eclipses.
• The ISRO will open 2023 with the commercial launch of 36 satellites of the UK-based OneWeb, said its Chairman S. Somanath.
• The first batch of 36 satellites was successfully launched recently.
• The UK company has contracted with NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) to pay over Rs 1,000 crore for both launches.
• OneWeb is a joint venture between India Bharti Global and the UK government.
• The other mission slotted for 2023 is the launch of a navigation satellite for the country’s NavIC constellation.
• According to Somanath, the space agency will end 2022 with the launch of its small rocket – Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in December.
• The rocket’s maiden mission this year was a failure.
• The ISRO will also send a satellite to study the oceans — Oceansat- 3 with a couple of other satellites as piggyback luggage.

• Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved a proposal for formation of three new Boards as Rajasthan Leather Crafts Development Board, Rajasthan State Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Board and Rajasthan State Dhobhi Welfare Board for the overall development and economic upliftment of every section of the people.
• As per the new Leather & Crafts Development Board, the standard of living of the people related to leather business will increase and their economic development will be ensured.
• The formation of this board will ensure effective participation of the tanners in the industrial development of the state. Along with this, marketing centers will be developed for all the basic facilities like roads, water, electricity, medicine, education, marketing of products at the workplace and development site of the tanners.
• Arrangements will also be made to provide skill training to the tanners through reputed institutions in the country for modern technology based leather dyeing and other products.
• Through the board, schemes will be made for the social security of the tanners and their time bound implementation will be done. For the development of leather workers, proper financial support and finance from banks will also be arranged. The work of keeping leather products free from the tender process in government procurement can also be done by the board.

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Board

• With this decision of the Chief Minister, the social and educational level of certain sections of the society will increase. Various schemes will be proposed by this newly formed board for their economic growth and necessary basic facilities will be provided.
• With the formation of the board, various development and welfare-related schemes will be prepared for the gardener society and along with promoting the art and culture of these sections, their traditional business will also be brought to a more profitable position.

 Washroom Welfare Board

• After taking stock of the condition of different sections of the society, this board has been constituted with the objective of providing basic facilities to these sections on the basis of authentic survey reports and identifying their problems and giving suggestions to overcome them.
• A coordination between the board and with various departments for welfare schemes being run for the washermen society in the state will increase and it will be made more strong by bringing changes in the present situation of traditional business.

• In the UK, the former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak will become the first British Asian Prime Minister as he won the race to lead the Conservative Party. The 42-year-old politician will be Britain’s youngest Prime Minister in more than a century. Mr. Sunak will be appointed Prime Minister by King Charles.
• Sunak said that the country needed stability and unity, and pledged to bring his party and the country together. The outgoing Prime Minister Truss stepped down, after just six weeks in office. Truss’ resignation triggered the second race to pick a new Prime Minister this year after months of scandals and market turmoil.
• In September, Sunak was defeated by Truss in a party leadership vote in the wake of Boris Johnson stepping down. Mr. Sunak is considered one of Westminster’s wealthiest politicians. The son of a doctor and pharmacist of Indian origin, Sunak was born in Southampton, Hampshire, and went to one of Britain’s top boarding schools. Before entering politics, he studied at Oxford University and Stanford University and worked in a private company.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Rishi Sunak on being appointed as new Prime Minister of UK.
• Mr Modi said he looks forward to working closely together on global issues and implementing Roadmap 2030. He also extended special Diwali wishes to the ‘living bridge’ of UK Indians, as India and UK transform historic ties into a modern partnership.

• Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan participated at the opening session of ‘Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa’ in Senegal.
• The event was inaugurated by President of Senegal, Macky Sall in Dakar.
• Presidents of Angola and Cabo Verde, several Ministers and high level dignitaries were present on the occasion.
• Mr Muraleedharan said the Forum has become an important place for policy discussions on sovereignty and security aspects of Africa.
• He said India strongly supports the development priorities of Africa guided by 10 principles laid down by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ugandan Parliament in 2018.
• This is the first time that India is participating in the forum at a Ministerial level.
• The Dakar International Forum has become a key event for decision-makers involved in Africa.
• The participation of Mr Muraleedharan in the Dakar Forum underscores the importance that India attaches to the peace, security and developmental issues concerning Africa.
• The visit is also in line with India’s policy to intensify and deepen its engagement with Africa.

• Miss Earth India 2022 Vanshika Parmar called on Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Raj Bhawan. Congratulating her, the Governor praised her self-confidence and talent. He said her success was a matter of pride for the state and the country, and an inspiration to others.
• Nineteen-year-old Vanshika of Nadaun, Hamirpur, is the first-ever girl from the state to lift the title of Miss Earth India, the finale of which was held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.
• Vanshika will represent India at the Miss Earth pageant in November in the Philippines, where she will compete with representatives from over 90 nations. She is currently pursuing her masters from Miranda House, University of Delhi.
• Vanshika Parmar hails from Nadaun, Hamirpur and  is the first-ever girl from the state to become Miss Earth India 2022 at the tender age of 19.