Why in news?

• United Nationshas recognised March 24 to be observed as the International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims every year.
• The day aims to pay tribute to those who have devoted their lives or lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all.
• This day is observed on 24th March every year to pay tribute to “Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero” as he was murdered on 24 March 1980.
• He was actively engaged in criticizing violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable individuals in El Salvador.
• The day was proclaimed by the United Nations in December 2010,to say no to all forms of violence, injustice and oppression against humanity.

Why in news?

• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has signed the Memorandum of understanding with the tripartite partnership for One Health, bringing together the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), formally the Quadripartite partnership at its annual executive meeting held on 18 March 2022 at Nairobi, Kenya.
• The UNEP will offer the expertise required to tackle the ecological dimension of human and animal health.
• The Quadripartite alliance will now focus on a One Health Joint Plan of Action, which includes six action tracks. They are
• Enhancing countries’ capacity to strengthen health systems under a One Health approach.
• Reducing the risks from emerging or resurfacing zoonotic epidemics and pandemics.
• Controlling and eliminating endemic – zoonotic diseases, neglected tropical diseases and vector-borne diseases.
• Strengthening the assessment, management and communication of food safety risks.
• Curbing the silent pandemic of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
• Better integrating the environment into the One Health approach.

About One Health:

• The One Health approach aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, ecosystems and the wider environment.
• It mobilises multiple sectors, disciplines and communities to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health and ecosystems.
• It also addresses the collective need for clean energy, water and air, safe and nutritious food, action on climate change, and contributing to sustainable development.

About United Nation Environment Program (UNEP)

• The United Nation Environment Program was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm on 5th June 1972.
• Headquarters are located in Nairobi, Kenya.

Why in news?

• Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the continuation of National AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Control Programme (NACP) for 5 years from 1 April, 2021 to 31 March, 2026 with an outlay of Rs. 15,471.94 crore by approving phase-V of the programme.
• The Phase-IV (Extension) of National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP) was concluded on 31 March, 2021.
• The NACP Phase-V will work towards the attainment of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 3.3 of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 through a comprehensive package of prevention, detection and treatment services.

About National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP):

• It is a Central sector scheme which is completely funded by the Government of India.
• The national AIDS response was initiated by the Indian government in 1992 with the launch of the first phase of the NACP.
• Progress of NACP:
• India recorded annual new HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infections declined in cases by 48% against the global average of 31 % (the baseline year of 2010).
• Annual AIDS-related deaths have declined by 82 % against the global average of 42 % (the baseline year of 2010).
• HIV prevalence in India continues to be low with an adult HIV prevalence of 0.22%.

About Human Immunodeficiency Virus

• It is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. The untreated HIV can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency syndrome).

About Sexually Transmitted Diseases

• These diseases are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. Examples-Gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, Syphilis.

Why in news?

• Kerala became the first state in India to introduce carbon-neutral agricultural practices in select locations for better soil health.
• The Kerala Government in its Budget 2022-23, allocated ₹6 crore for introducing Carbon-neutral farming methods in the state.
• In the first phase, the Agriculture Department will implement the carbon-neutral farming in 13 farms including in tribal areas and steps were also taken to convert the State Seed Farm at Aluva to a carbon-neutral farm.
• In the second phase, model carbon-neutral farms will be developed in all the 140 Assembly constituencies.

About Carbon-Neutral Farming

• Carbon-neutral farming is the technique of decreasing carbon emissions and aid carbon storage in the soil, through techniques such as Integrated fanning methods, Crop rotation, Fertigation, Precision Farming methods, Shifting how the soil is irrigated, and restricting the haphazard use of Fertiliser application.

Why in news?

• Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has become the all-time leading scorer (professional football) with 807 goals, after scoring 3 goals against Tottenham Hotspur during the English Premier League 2022. Previously the record was held by Austro-Czech Josef Bican who scored 805 goals from 1931 to 1955.
• Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 807 goals while playing for Lisbon (5), Manchester United (136), Real Madrid (450), Juventus (101) and the Portuguese national team (115).
• Brazilian strikers Pele and Romario de Souza Faria each have scored more than 1000 goals during their careers, but the statistics include goals in amateur, unofficial and friendly matches.

Why in news?

• Report titled ‘Groundwater: Making the invisible visible’ describes the challenges and opportunities associated with development, management and governance of groundwater.
• Report is released by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water, which coordinates efforts of UN entities and international organizations working on water and sanitation issues.
• Key findings
• Groundwater presently provides half of the volume of water withdrawn for domestic use by global population and around 25% of all water used for Irrigation.
• An estimated four billion people live in areas that suffer from severe physical water scarcity for at least one month per year.
• Development of groundwater could act as a catalyst for economic growth by increasing extent of irrigated areas and therefore improving agricultural yields and crop diversity.
• India is largest groundwater-user globally followed by China and Pakistan.
• China, India, Iran, Pakistan and US account for about 70% of unsustainable water footprint.
• Recommendations
• Collecting groundwater data for monitoring.
• Strengthening environmental regulations for groundwater pollution.
• Reinforcing human, material and financial resources by way of increasing groundwater professionals among the staff of institutions as well as local and national government.
• Financing and supporting groundwater departments/agencies.

Why in news?

• The ministry said that to promote exports of locally Geographical Indications (GI) tagged agricultural products, the government is identifying new products and export destinations.
• The government, through the Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA), has been facilitating trial shipments of certain products into new markets.
• The products include Kala Namak rice, Naga Mircha etc.

About Kala Namak Rice

• Deriving its name from the black husk (kala) and a mild salty (namak) taste, it is considered as one of the finest rice varieties.
• It has been awarded GI Tag from Uttar Pradesh.
• It is a non-basmati scented rice variety grown primarily in tarai region of Uttar Pradesh.
• It is highly resistant to rice diseases such as panicle blast, stem rot and brown spot.
• Water requirement is also low compared to Basmati.
• It is also known as ‘Buddha ka Mahaprasad’ (an offering to Lord Buddha).
• It has been rebranded as Buddha Rice in order to promote it in Buddhist countries.

Why in news?

• For the first time, Indian Constitution is translated into Santali script ‘Ol Chiki’.
• 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act 2003 added Santali to Schedule VIII along with the Bodo, Dogri and Maithili languages.

About Santals

• Santals community is concentrated in several states including Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.
• They speak Santali language which belongs to the Munda group of Austro-Asiatic sub-family of languages.
• Santals are well known for their housing architecture with colourfully painted walls, floors and artistically carved doors.
• Their primary occupation is settled agriculture.

Why in news?

• Russia has claimed to have used Kinzhal missiles for the first time in Ukraine.
• Kinzhal, which means dagger, is an air-launched hypersonic missile with a reported range of 1,500-2,000km. It can carry nuclear payload of 480 kg.
• Hypersonic describes any speed faster than five times that of sound.
• Hypersonic weapons are normally defined as fast, low-flying, and highly maneuverable weapons designed to be too quick and agile for traditional missile defence systems to detect in time.

Why in news?

• World Water Day is celebrated globally on 22nd March every year. The day aims to highlight the importance of freshwater. It is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
• The World Water Day theme 2022 is “Groundwater, Making the Invisible Visible”. Groundwater is a crucial resource that provides almost half of all drinkable water across the world.
• This year, the focus is groundwater, an invisible resource with an impact visible everywhere. Relevant issues include water scarcity, water pollution, inadequate water supply, lack of sanitation, and the impacts of climate change that are looked upon on this day.
• World Water Day: History
• The idea for this international day goes back to 1992,the year in which the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro took place.
• That same year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution by which 22 March of each year was declared World Day for Water, to be observed starting in 1993.