UPSC Smart Study
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🍲 Global Hunger Index 2023:
• The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at global, regional, and national levels, reflecting multiple dimensions of hunger over time.
• The GHI is intended to raise awareness and understanding of the struggle against hunger, provide a way to compare levels of hunger between countries and regions, and call attention to those areas of the world where hunger levels are highest and where the need for additional efforts to eliminate hunger is greatest.
• India ranks 111 out of a total of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023, with its progress against hunger nearly halted since 2015, reflecting a global trend.
• The Union government, though, contested India’s performance for the third year in a row, citing flawed methodology.
• Afghanistan, Haiti and 12 sub-Saharan countries perform worse than India on the GHI.
• India’s ranking is based on a Global Hunger Index score of 28.7 on a 100-point scale where 0 is the best score (no hunger) and 100 is the worst. This categorises India’s severity of hunger as “serious”.
• While India made significant strides between 2000 and 2015, with its score improving from 38.4 in 2000 to 35.5 in 2008 and 29.2 in 2015, over the past eight years, the country has advanced on the GHI by only 0.5 points.
• The 2000, 2008 and 2015 GHI scores are the only data that can be used for valid comparisons over time.
• India’s performance mirrors a global trend. The 2023 GHI score for the world is 18.3, which is considered moderate. However, it is only one point below the world’s 2015 GHI score of 19.1.
• South Asia and Africa South of the Sahara are the world regions with the highest hunger levels, with GHI scores of 27.0 each, indicating serious hunger.
• West Asia and North Africa is the region with the third-highest hunger level with a score of 11.9 indicating “moderate” hunger level.
• Latin American and the Caribbean is the only region in the world whose GHI scores have worsened between 2015 and 2023.
• East and Southeast Asia, dominated by populous China, has the second-lowest 2023 GHI score of any region in the report. China, for example, is among the top 20 countries that each have a GHI score of less than 5.
• The region with the lowest 2023 GHI score is Europe and Central Asia, whose score of 6.0 is considered “low”.
□ Methodology:
• The GHI score is based on a formula which combines four indicators that together capture the multi-dimensional nature of hunger, including under-nourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality.
○ Undernourishment: The share of the population whose caloric intake is insufficient.
○ Child stunting: The share of children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition.
○ Child wasting: The share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition.
○ Child mortality: The share of children who die before their fifth birthday, reflecting in part the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments.
• The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at global, regional, and national levels, reflecting multiple dimensions of hunger over time.
• The GHI is intended to raise awareness and understanding of the struggle against hunger, provide a way to compare levels of hunger between countries and regions, and call attention to those areas of the world where hunger levels are highest and where the need for additional efforts to eliminate hunger is greatest.
• India ranks 111 out of a total of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023, with its progress against hunger nearly halted since 2015, reflecting a global trend.
• The Union government, though, contested India’s performance for the third year in a row, citing flawed methodology.
• Afghanistan, Haiti and 12 sub-Saharan countries perform worse than India on the GHI.
• India’s ranking is based on a Global Hunger Index score of 28.7 on a 100-point scale where 0 is the best score (no hunger) and 100 is the worst. This categorises India’s severity of hunger as “serious”.
• While India made significant strides between 2000 and 2015, with its score improving from 38.4 in 2000 to 35.5 in 2008 and 29.2 in 2015, over the past eight years, the country has advanced on the GHI by only 0.5 points.
• The 2000, 2008 and 2015 GHI scores are the only data that can be used for valid comparisons over time.
• India’s performance mirrors a global trend. The 2023 GHI score for the world is 18.3, which is considered moderate. However, it is only one point below the world’s 2015 GHI score of 19.1.
• South Asia and Africa South of the Sahara are the world regions with the highest hunger levels, with GHI scores of 27.0 each, indicating serious hunger.
• West Asia and North Africa is the region with the third-highest hunger level with a score of 11.9 indicating “moderate” hunger level.
• Latin American and the Caribbean is the only region in the world whose GHI scores have worsened between 2015 and 2023.
• East and Southeast Asia, dominated by populous China, has the second-lowest 2023 GHI score of any region in the report. China, for example, is among the top 20 countries that each have a GHI score of less than 5.
• The region with the lowest 2023 GHI score is Europe and Central Asia, whose score of 6.0 is considered “low”.
□ Methodology:
• The GHI score is based on a formula which combines four indicators that together capture the multi-dimensional nature of hunger, including under-nourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality.
○ Undernourishment: The share of the population whose caloric intake is insufficient.
○ Child stunting: The share of children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition.
○ Child wasting: The share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition.
○ Child mortality: The share of children who die before their fifth birthday, reflecting in part the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments.
📰 India, U.S. in agreement on strategic issues: Rajnath.
• Mr. Austin welcomed India’s decision to become a full member of the Combined Maritime Forces, a multilateral construct headquartered in Bahrain.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-us-in-increasing-agreement-on-strategic-issues-including-countering-chinas-aggression-rajnath/article67521531.ece
• Mr. Austin welcomed India’s decision to become a full member of the Combined Maritime Forces, a multilateral construct headquartered in Bahrain.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-us-in-increasing-agreement-on-strategic-issues-including-countering-chinas-aggression-rajnath/article67521531.ece
The Hindu
India, U.S. in agreement on strategic issues: Rajnath
India-U.S. defence ties grow, focus on countering China's aggression, promoting free Indo-Pacific, and enhancing defence industrial cooperation. Talks cover maritime security, easing tech restrictions, resilient supply chains, and joint research. India-U.S.…
📰 Tamil Nadu tops in number of accidents on National Highways:
• Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of road accidents on its network of National Highways in 2022 with 64,105 accidents.
• The State saw 17,884 fatalities due to road accidents, according to Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) statistics.
• The State retained its top position in 2022 for the fifth consecutive year.
• Tamil Nadu stood second when it came to number of fatalities due to road accidents with 17,884 deaths amounting to 10.6% of the total lives lost. Uttar Pradesh with 22,595 deaths topped this dreary chart when it came to casualties.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-tops-in-number-of-accidents-on-national-highways/article67517733.ece
• Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of road accidents on its network of National Highways in 2022 with 64,105 accidents.
• The State saw 17,884 fatalities due to road accidents, according to Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) statistics.
• The State retained its top position in 2022 for the fifth consecutive year.
• Tamil Nadu stood second when it came to number of fatalities due to road accidents with 17,884 deaths amounting to 10.6% of the total lives lost. Uttar Pradesh with 22,595 deaths topped this dreary chart when it came to casualties.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-tops-in-number-of-accidents-on-national-highways/article67517733.ece
The Hindu
Tamil Nadu tops in number of accidents on National Highways
Tamil Nadu recorded highest road accidents in 2022 with 64,105 cases, 17,884 fatalities. 67% of accidents occurred on straight roads, 2% due to construction work. Necessary road safety infrastructure lacking, proposals for overbridges dropped. Tamil Nadu…
💉 Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP):
• The Universal Immunisation Programme is one of the largest vaccination projects in the world aimed at protecting children and pregnant mothers from preventable diseases.
• The Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) was launched in 1985.
• Launched as Expanded programme on Immunization in 1978 and it was renamed as Universal Immunization programme in 1985 when it was expanded beyond urban areas.
• Under UIP, immunization is being provided free of cost against 12 vaccine preventable diseases: Nationally against 11 diseases Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Rotavirus diarrhea, Hepatitis B, Meningitis & Pneumonia caused by Hemophilus Influenza type B and Pneumococcal Pneumonia and sub-nationally against 1 disease - Japanese Encephalitis (JE vaccine is provided only in endemic districts).
• The Universal Immunisation Programme is one of the largest vaccination projects in the world aimed at protecting children and pregnant mothers from preventable diseases.
• The Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) was launched in 1985.
• Launched as Expanded programme on Immunization in 1978 and it was renamed as Universal Immunization programme in 1985 when it was expanded beyond urban areas.
• Under UIP, immunization is being provided free of cost against 12 vaccine preventable diseases: Nationally against 11 diseases Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Rotavirus diarrhea, Hepatitis B, Meningitis & Pneumonia caused by Hemophilus Influenza type B and Pneumococcal Pneumonia and sub-nationally against 1 disease - Japanese Encephalitis (JE vaccine is provided only in endemic districts).
📰 PM Modi to launch PM-PVTG Mission, Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-modi-to-launch-pm-pvtg-mission-viksit-bharat-sankalp-yatra-on-janjatiya-gaurav-diwas/article67529602.ece
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-modi-to-launch-pm-pvtg-mission-viksit-bharat-sankalp-yatra-on-janjatiya-gaurav-diwas/article67529602.ece
The Hindu
PM Modi to launch PM-PVTG Mission, Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas
PM Modi to launch PM-PVTG Mission in Jharkhand on Nov 15 to bring critical infrastructure to 75 PVTG communities. Govt has allocated ₹24,000 crore for scheme, which includes 11 interventions and concerted efforts to ensure saturation of other schemes.
📰 Navies of India and Bangladesh conduct joint exercise:
• The 4th edition of bilateral exercises between the Indian and Bangladesh navies, Bongosagar-23, and the 5th edition of Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) by the two navies were conducted in the northern Bay of Bengal from November 7 to 9.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/navies-of-india-and-bangladesh-conduct-joint-exercise/article67520882.ece
• The 4th edition of bilateral exercises between the Indian and Bangladesh navies, Bongosagar-23, and the 5th edition of Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) by the two navies were conducted in the northern Bay of Bengal from November 7 to 9.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/navies-of-india-and-bangladesh-conduct-joint-exercise/article67520882.ece
The Hindu
Navies of India and Bangladesh conduct joint exercise
Navies of India and Bangladesh conduct joint exercise. ‘Bongosagar-23’ saw the participation of ships and aircraft of both the navies along the International Maritime Boundary Line from November 7 to 9.
🗞 Unheeded advice: On the conduct of Governors.
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/unheeded-advice-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-conduct-of-governors/article67563057.ece
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/unheeded-advice-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-conduct-of-governors/article67563057.ece
The Hindu
Unheeded advice: On the conduct of Governors
The Hindu Editorial says the time has come for the Governor’s role to be reconsidered
🗞 Haryana’s private sector domicile reservation law and why it has been quashed by the High Court | Explained:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/haryanas-private-sector-domicile-reservation-law-and-why-it-has-been-quashed-by-the-high-court-explained/article67559282.ece
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/haryanas-private-sector-domicile-reservation-law-and-why-it-has-been-quashed-by-the-high-court-explained/article67559282.ece
The Hindu
Haryana’s private sector domicile reservation law and why it has been quashed by the High Court | Explained
Punjab & Haryana HC quashes Haryana's 75% local quota law in private sector jobs. Law was seen as a major setback for the BJP-JJP coalition govt. Law was challenged on grounds of violating Art. 19 & 14 of Constitution. HC noted law would create artificial…
• Study of Virus is called "Virology".
• Study of Bacteria is called "Bacteriology".
• Study of Fungi is called "Mycology".
• Study of Algae is called "Phycology (Algology)".
• Study of Protozoa is called "Protozoology".
• Study of Bacteria is called "Bacteriology".
• Study of Fungi is called "Mycology".
• Study of Algae is called "Phycology (Algology)".
• Study of Protozoa is called "Protozoology".
🐜 Odisha's Red Ant chutney gets GI Tag:
• Odisha's Red Ant chutney (Kai Chutney) is renowned in the region for its medicinal and nutritional properties.
• Red weaver ants, scientifically known as Oecophylla smaragdina, are notable for their extremely painful sting, capable of causing blisters on the skin.
• These ants are commonly found in the forests of Mayurbhanj, including the Similipal forests, which constitute Asia's second-largest biosphere.
• Odisha's Red Ant chutney (Kai Chutney) is renowned in the region for its medicinal and nutritional properties.
• Red weaver ants, scientifically known as Oecophylla smaragdina, are notable for their extremely painful sting, capable of causing blisters on the skin.
• These ants are commonly found in the forests of Mayurbhanj, including the Similipal forests, which constitute Asia's second-largest biosphere.