Current Context : Recently, a Valley fever, a fungal disease endemic rise in California.

ABOUT VALLEY FEVER

• Valley Fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is an infection caused by a fungus called Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii.
• This fungus is found in the soil, primarily in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States, such as Arizona and California, as well as parts of Mexico and Central and South America.
• Symptoms: fever, cough, and fatigue, joint pain, rash, chest pain.

Current Context : Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh  launched the ‘VisioNxt Fashion Forecasting Initiative’ of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).

• It is a bilingual web portal and the India-specific Fashion Trend Book ‘Paridhi 24×25.
• VisioNxt initiative will foster healthy global competition and elevate Indian culture and design to new heights on the global stage,
• VisioNxt—a Trend Insights and Forecasting Initiative—was conceived and established at NIFT Delhi (Creative Lab) and NIFT Chennai (Insights Lab), with the support of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, in 2018.

Current Context : The 6th meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC) convened in Riyadh.

• The discussion encompassed various aspects of military collaboration, including joint exercises, expert exchanges, training programs, and industry cooperation.

REALTIONS BETWEEN INDIA AND SAUDI ARABIA

• India and Saudi Arabia have historical ties dating back to ancient trade routes.
• Diplomatic relations were formalized in 1947 when India gained independence. Relations were further strengthened in the late 20th and early 21st centuries through strategic dialogues and high-level visits.
• Trade Relations : Saudi Arabia is one of India’s largest trading partners.

Major exports from India include textiles, pharmaceuticals, and machinery, while imports from Saudi Arabia primarily consist of crude oil and petrochemicals.

Current Context : Madhya Pradesh government approved the ‘Brindavan Gram’ scheme, under which, ‘gaushalas’ and other schemes benefitting the villagers will be established.

Objective: To promote rural development and increase farmers’ incomes.

Key Features:

• Establishment of gaushalas (cow sheds) in selected gram panchayats.
• Promotion of milk production.
• Implementation of roof-top solar policies in the selected villages.
• One gram panchayat from each of the state’s 313 blocks will be selected and renamed ‘Brindavan Gram. 

Current Context : Gensol Engineering Limited, in partnership with Matrix Gas & Renewables Ltd.,will develop India’s first Bio-Hydrogen project.

• It is expected to be completed within 18 months, aligns with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission and represents a significant step towards sustainable energy.

ABOUT BIO-HYDROGEN 

• Bio-hydrogen is generated using organic materials such as biomass or microorganisms.
• It is considered a clean and renewable energy source, which has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.

Advantages of Bio-hydrogen

• Renewable: Produced from organic materials and biomass, making it a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
• Low Emissions: When used as a fuel, hydrogen only produces water vapor, which is an environmentally friendly emission.
• Energy Density: Hydrogen has a high energy content per unit mass, which makes it a potent energy carrier.

Current Context : Uttar Pradesh government will construct a Vedic-3D museum in Varanasi at the main building of the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.

• The museum will showcase the evolution of Vedic literature, highlighting the 16 Sanskars, 64 arts, and 18 Vidya Sthans as well as contributions of Indian sages.
• It serve as a platform to revive the tradition of ‘Shastrartha'(spiritual discourse).

Observed annually on September 8th across the globe.

• Aim : to raise awareness about the importance of literacy and its role in empowering individuals and communities.
• International Literacy Day was declared by UNESCO on October 26, 1966.
• The first observance of International Literacy Day was held on September 8, 1967.

Current Context : Himachal Pradesh State Legislative Assembly introduced Zero hour during the ongoing Monsoon session.

• This is the first time in the history of the state assembly that the members of the House will get the facility of zero hour.

ABOUT ZERO HOUR

• It refers to the period in both houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) that starts immediately after the Question Hour and lasts until the agenda for the day is taken up.
• Zero Hour is an informal device through which members of Parliament (MPs) can raise issues of urgent public importance without prior notice.

PROCEDURE:

• Members of Parliament can raise issues, ask questions, or make statements on matters of urgent public importance during Zero Hour.
• No formal rules or notices are required for raising issues during this period, though it is expected that the issues raised are of significant public interest.

Current Context : President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier as the new prime minister of France.

• Barnier takes over from the outgoing PM Gabriel Attal.

ABOUT FRANCE

• Location: located in Western Europe
• Bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra. It has coastlines on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
• Capital: Paris
• Currency : Euro (€).
• Population: approximately 68 million people.
• Major Cities: Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes, Strasbourg, Bordeaux.

GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE:

• France is a semi-presidential republic. The President is the head of state and holds significant powers in foreign policy and defense. The Prime Minister, appointed by the President, is the head of government and is responsible for domestic policy.

Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly (lower house) and the Senate (upper house).

Current Context : The Ministry of Women and Child Development has received the National Award for e-Governance 2024 (Gold) for the Poshan Tracker initiative.  

ABOUT POSHAN TRACKER INITIATIVE

• It is a tool to monitor Mission Poshan 2.0’s progress, including growth measurements, Aadhar verification, and realtime tracking of nutrition services.
• It identifies and addresses growth issues among children aged 0-6 years, utilizing real-time monitoring and WHO growth charts to ensure optimal nutritional outcomes.
• The Poshan Tracker employs advanced ICT tools and Growth Measuring Devices (GMD) at each Anganwadi Center (AWC) to facilitate accurate data collection and regular monitoring.