• The Mid Planning Conference (MPC) of MILAN 24 (Multilateral Naval Exercise – 2024), to be hosted by the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam from 19 – 27 Feb 24, was conducted by the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) with participating friendly foreign Navies over video conference on 17 Oct 23.
• The Flagship event, MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise, which was incepted by the Indian Navy in 1995. Originally conceived in consonance with India’s ‘Look East Policy, MILAN expanded in ensuing years with the Govt of lndia’s ‘Act East policy’ and Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi’s Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative, to include participation from other Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs).
• MILAN 22 was conducted at/ off Visakhapatnam from 25 Feb – 04 Mar 22 and witnessed participation from 39 countries.
• The harbour phase of MILAN 24 will comprise of International Maritime Seminar, City Parade at RK Beach, Swavlamban Exhibition, Subject Matter Expert Exchange and Milan of Young Officers. Ships, Maritime patrol aircraft and submarines of Friendly Foreign Countries would participate in the sea phase along with Indian Navy units. They will involve large-force manoeuvres, advanced air defence operations, Anti-submarine warfare and Anti-surface warfare operations.
• The run-up to MILAN is concomitant to India’s G20 Presidency and the conduct of the exercise would yet again realise the ‘G20 theme Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.
• Scheduled from 19 – 27 Feb 24 at/ off Visakhapatnam, MILAN 24 is likely to witness the largest-ever participation to date with invites being extended to over 50 countries.

• The Army will start phasing out the first lot of the vintage Cheetah and Chetak helicopters from 2027 onwards on completion of their Total Technical Life (TTL) while it looks to induct the indigenous Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) in numbers to replace them, according to defence sources.

ABOUT CHETAK HELICOPTER

• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Helicopter Division started manufacturing helicopters in 1962, by entering an agreement with France for production of Aloutte III helicopters (Chetak).
• The first Chetak in ‘Fly Away’ condition was delivered in 1965.
• The Chetak Helicopter is a two-ton class helicopter.
• The seven-seater Chetak helicopter is versatile, multi role, multipurpose, and spacious.
• The helicopter is suitable for commuting, cargo / material transport, casualty evacuation, Search & Rescue (SAR), Aerial Survey & Patrolling, Emergency Medical Services, Off-shore operations and Under slung operations.
• Till date, HAL has produced and sold more than 350 of these versatile Helicopters which are in service both in India and abroad

ABOUT CHEETAH HELICOPTER

• The HAL Cheetah is a licence-built version of the French Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama.
• While it is known for its capability to operate in hot tropical weather as well as high altitude conditions, it is an ageing aircraft – the SA315B Lama was first flown in 1969, over 50 years ago.
• Over the years, along with HAL Chetak, the Cheetah has developed a reputation of being unsafe, with the armed forces attempting to find upgrades for these rotorcraft.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signed a licence agreement for the Lama with Aérospatiale in 1970 and christened the India made aircraft “Cheetah”.
• The first Cheetah manufactured from raw materials was delivered in 1976-77.
• Operated by both the Indian Air Force and the Army Aviation Corps, it has been used for transporting men and material, search and rescue, and reconnaissance.
• Cheetahs have especially been crucial for operations in Siachen, the world’s highest battleground at over 6,000 m.

• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has extended the last date to fill up the application form for the CBSE Single Girl Child Scholarship. Students who are yet to apply can fill up the application form till October 31, 2023 now.

ABOUT CBSE MERIT SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME FOR SINGLE GIRL CHILD

• It was launched by the Ministry of Education.
• The scheme is aimed at recognizing the efforts of parents in promoting education among girls and to providing encouragement to meritorious students.
• The objective of the scheme is to provide scholarships to meritorious single girl students, who are the only children of their parents; and have passed the CBSE Class X Examination with 60% or more marks, and are continuing their further school education in Class XI and XII.
• It provides financial aid every month to the selected students, so they can continue their higher education.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• The applicant should be the single girl child of her family.
• The applicant should have secured 60% or more marks in the CBSE Class 10th Examination and be studying Class 11th and 12th in school (affiliated with CBSE).
• The tuition fee should not be more than ₹1,500/- per month during the academic year. In the next two years, the total enhancement in tuition fees in such a school shall not be more than 10% of the tuition fee charged.
• The applicant must be an Indian National.
• The student must continue her school studies in Classes 11th and 12th.
• Applicants who have the status of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) are also eligible to apply. The tuition fee for the NRIs has been decided maximum of 6,000/- per month.

BENEFITS:

• The scholarship offers a maximum of 500 per month.
• The amount is payable for a maximum period of two years. Payment will be made through ECS/NEFT.
• The scholarship is eligible for renewal annually upon successful completion of class XI, contingent upon the scholar’s achievement of 50% or more aggregate marks in the exam determining promotion to the next class.
• Renewal or continuation of the scholarship requires the prior approval of the Board if the scholar discontinues the current course of study or changes schools.
• Satisfactory conduct and regular attendance are necessary for maintaining the scholarship.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the country’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), calling the Namo Bharat train a glimpse of India’s promising future.

ABOUT NAMO BHARAT

• It is the country’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) named Namo Bharat train. Formerly, the Namo Bharat train was called “RAPIDX.”
• It will establish a Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor that will have a travel time of less than an hour through urban centers of Ghaziabad, Muradnagar and Modinagar.
• It is a National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) shuttle train that will run from Meerut to Delhi.
• The 17-km stretch from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot in Uttar Pradesh was inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
• The full 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor is estimated to be functional by 2025.
• It has a top speed of 180 km/h.
• It is managed and operated by Deutsche Bahn, a German rail company.
• It will offer high-speed intercity commuter trains every 15 minutes, with the option to reduce the frequency to as little as every 5 minutes if necessary.
• It Developed at a cost of more than ₹30,000 crore.

HISTORY

• A study conducted by the Indian Railways in 1998-99 identified regional rapid transit system as an option for connecting regions of the NCR via high-speed commuter trains.
• The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) was established in 2013 to implement eight planned Regional Rapid Transit Systems (RRTS) throughout the NCR to relieve traffic in the 100–200 km radius surrounding Delhi.
• The NCRTC rebranded RRTS services as “RapidX” in April 2023.

ABOUT REGIONAL RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM (RRTS)

• A high-frequency, high-speed commuter transit system, the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) was created to enhance transportation in urban and suburban areas, especially in places with dense populations and heavy traffic.
• The main goal of RRTS is to offer quick, practical, and efficient public transportation choices.

ABOUT NCRTC

• The NCRTC is a joint venture company of the Central government and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• It falls under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• It is mandated to implement the RRTS project across the NCR and ensure balanced and sustainable urban development through better connectivity and access.

• Every year, on October 20^th, International Chefs Day is celebrated worldwide, paying tribute to the art and science of cooking.
• It was introduced by the late chef Dr. Bill Gallagher in 2004 and serves as a platform to honor the contributions of chefs across the globe.
• This year’s International Chefs Day theme is ‘Growing A Healthy Future.’

• The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched search operations in seventy six locations across India in a major crackdown against cyber criminals.
• The crackdown, termed ‘Operation Chakra-2’ was conducted after registering five separate cases of cyber-enabled financial fraud, including a ₹100-crore crypto scam.
• Chakra-1 was conducted nearly a year ago by the CBI in coordination with the Interpol, the FBI and police forces of multiple countries.

• India is the world’s largest exporter of attar.
• The olfactory art and science was inspired by Nur Jahan’s (Jahangir’s wife) love for the damask rose.
• Attar is distilled extracts of flowers and herbs in a base of sandalwood oil.
• Kannauj is a significant hub for the fragrance and flavor industry in India, contributing to the country’s exports.
  • Hence, it is known as Perfume city.
• It also has geographical indication (GI) tag.
• Attar is made with natural extracts using the heirloom hydrodistillation process, without alcohol and artificial preservatives.

• The village of Dhordo in Gujarat has secured a place on the list of the 54 best tourism villages announced by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
• Gujarat’s Dhordo village is located in the Great Rann of Kutch.
• It is well-known for hosting the annual Rann Utsav – a vibrant cultural festival that showcases the traditional art, music and crafts of the region.

ABOUT UNITED NATIONS WORLD TOURISM ORGANISATION

• It is the United Nations Specialised Agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
• It was established in 1975
• Headquarters– Madrid, Spain.
• UNWTO encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, to maximize tourism’s socio-economic contribution while minimizing its possible negative impacts.

• Parents of children suffering from Niemann Pick disease, a rare genetic disorder that affects the body’s ability to metabolise cholesterol and other fats, have urged the Union government to notify the ailment under the National Policy for Rare Diseases.
• This, they say, would enable eligible patients to receive financial support from the government and access Xenpozyme (olipudase alfa powder), an expensive enzyme replacement therapy used for treatment.
• NPD is a lysosomal storage disease (LSD) caused by acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD).
  • The disease refers to a group of inherited metabolic disorders in which abnormal amounts of lipids (fatty materials such as waxes, oils, and cholesterol) build up in the brain, spleen, liver, lungs, and bone marrow.
• Symptoms include Enlarged liver and spleen, difficulty in coordinating movement, frequent respiratory infections, slurred speech among others.

• Two women allegedly poisoned five of their family members in Mahagaon village in Gadchiroli over a period of one month, using Thallium.

About Thallium

• Thallium is a soft, heavy and inelastic metal.
• It is found in trace amounts in the earth’s crust.
• It is a bluish-white metal that turns gray on exposure to air.
• Thallium is a substance so lethal that it’s often referred to as the “poison of poisons.
• Thallium is notoriously difficult to detect because it lacks color, odor, and taste.
• When added to food or drink, it blends seamlessly, making it nearly impossible to identify by its flavor.
• Historically, Thallium has been utilized for nefarious purposes, primarily in targeting enemies or prisoners.
  • It’s worth noting that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein employed Thallium sulfate to eliminate his police adversaries.