The World Health Organization (WHO) has proclaimed the “Gujarat Declaration,” an outcome document issued after the first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit held in India in 2023. India served as the host of the first-ever WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, located in Gujarat. This declaration underscores worldwide commitments concerning indigenous knowledge, biodiversity, and traditional, integrative, and complementary medicine. The primary purpose of the Gujarat Declaration is to bolster evidence-based traditional medicine interventions aimed at achieving universal health coverage and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It further advocates for standardized documentation and data compilation regarding traditional medicine, and highlights the potential role of advanced digital health technologies, including artificial intelligence, within the sphere of traditional medicine.
Andhra Pradesh Students’ Local Quota Dilemma
The ‘local quota’ reserved system for Andhra Pradesh students in educational institutions, protected by Article 371 D of the Constitution, is currently facing uncertainty as the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, is set to expire in May 2024. Article 371, which provides specific provisions for 11 states, complete with six Northeastern states (excluding Tripura and Meghalaya), was subsequently amended as the 32nd Constitutional amendment in 1973 to include Article 371 D. This unique provision aligns with the needs of Andhra Pradesh, addressing its early 1970s agitations. Under Article 371 D, a significant 85% of seats in educational institutions are reserved for local students, a provision that has proven pivotal in ensuring educational accessibility for students within specified regions.
Findings from MIC 6th Edition Report
The newly published sixth edition of the Minor Irrigation Census (MIC) report sheds light on the prevalent power sources used in Indian irrigation. The MIC points out a remarkable shift in the principal power source for irrigation in India, where electricity is now at the forefront. In 2011, electricity served as the main power source for approximately 56% of irrigation, but this figure rose dramatically to 70% by 2017. It should be noted that these findings are representative of the 2017-18 period and do not provide an up-to-date representation of current irrigation practices.
IAF’s Trishul Exercise and Western Air Command’s Readiness
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has initiated its annual mega training exercise known as Trishul. This operation involves the activation of all combat assets under the Western Air Command (WAC), including fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters, which are deployed from Leh in Kashmir to Nal in Rajasthan. Trishul serves as a vital examination of the command’s operational readiness due to its vast scale and intricate nature, necessitating high levels of coordination and preparedness.
Israeli PM’s Proposal: Fiber Optic Link from Asia and the Middle East to Europe
The Prime Minister of Israel has proposed a project focused on the establishment of a fibre optic cable that would connect Asia and the Arabian Peninsula with Europe, via routes through Israel and Cyprus. He pointed out that this fibre optic connection could offer a secure and cost-effective pathway for international communication. This proposal is an extension of Israel’s existing cooperation with Cyprus and Greece on various energy projects, such as the EurAsia Interconnector, a 2,000-megawatt undersea electricity cable. Furthermore, it includes plans for energy diversification, encompassing gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas processing plants aimed at bolstering the East Mediterranean basin’s connection with Europe.