24.06.23 Daily [Uttarakhand] UKPSC Current Affairs

As compared to 3,425 hectares of forest land that was gutted in 885forest fire incidents in Uttarakhandbetween November 1, 2021 and June 19, 2022, merely 885 hectares were burnt down this season (November 1, 2022 to June 19, 2023), registering a massive 74.1% dip in forest area that was affected, as per the state forest department.

Even as after a delayed start, forest fires flared up around mid-June this year, the impact of cyclone Biparjoy, which caused rains and thunderstorms, made sure they died down again soon.

In Uttarakhand, forest fires usually start raging by April, considered the start of the peak forest fire season, when temperature soars in the hills and forest floors dry up and turn inflammable. This year, due to unseasonal rains and snowfall from March to May, summer was delayed and forest fires much less than usual. An uptick in cases was recorded from June 9-14, when temperatures across state started settling 4 to 5 degrees above normal. With a week-long dry spell, the mercury had touched the 39-40 degrees Celsius mark.

The Central government allocated 145 crore to Nagaland for the construction of a Unity Mall in Dimapur, aimed at promoting and showcasing the states One District One Product (ODOP) offerings, the ministry of commerce & said.

The allocation is part of the Union Budget 2023-24, which has earmarked 5,000 crore for the establishment of Unity Malls across the country.

The announcement was made during an ODOP Sampark event organized by the Department for the Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in collaboration with Invest India and the Department of Industries and Commerce, Nagaland. The event aimed to raise awareness about the ODOP and PM Gati Shakti initiatives, focusing on promoting local industries and improving Logistics.

The DPIIT Invest officials highlighted the initiatives undertaken under the ODOP program to empower Indian products, including design sensitization workshops, ODOP GeM Bazaar on the Government e-Marketplace, and ODOP exhibitions.

The construction of the three-storeyed Viraat Ramayan temple will be completed by the end of 2025 at an estimated cost of 500 crore. The temple will be taller than the 12^th century Angkor Wat temple complex at Cambodia. The temple will be constructed in 3.76 lakh sq. ft. land in the Kaithwalia-Bahuara villages under the Kalyanur block on Kesaria-Chakia road in East Champaran district, about 120 km from the State capital, Patna.

The temple will have 12 domes, the highest of which will be 270 ft tall, and 22 sanctum sanctorum for different deities. The temple will be 2,800 ft in length, 1,400 ft in width and 405 ft in height. The complex will have marriage halls and guest houses too.

E-Commerce giant Amazon plans to invest USD 15 billion more in India, taking its total in the country to USD 26 billion, a top official of the company has said.

Amazon is one of the biggest investors in India. We have invested USD 11 billion till date and intend to invest another USD 15 billion, which will bring the total to USD 26 billion. So we are very much looking forward to future of partnering, Jassy said.

This novel initiative by the Omani establishment demonstrates the increasing popularity and acceptance of as a Health practice worldwide but also highlights its growing prominence in this beautiful country. With a significant Indian community of 700,000 in Oman, yoga has gained considerable traction in recent years.

In a pioneering initiative, the Indian Embassy in the sultanate of Oman has introduced an innovative video called Soulful Yoga, Serene Oman on the eve of the International Day of Yoga 2023. The video showcases yoga enthusiasts from different countries performing beautiful yoga poses against stunning backdrops such as Mountains, beaches and sand dunes in and around Muscat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the Artemis Accords with the nation’s national space administration, as confirmed by the White House. This agreement holds significant importance for India to establish itself as a global space power.

Furthermore, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) have also agreed to launch a joint mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024.

The Artemis accord outlines the principles for cooperation in space exploration and the use of the moon, mars, comets, and asteroids for peaceful purposes.

These principles are non-binding multilateral arrangements between the US government and other governments that wish to participate in NASAs Artemis programme

Nasas Artemis program focuses on making new scientific discoveries and expanding the exploration of the lunar surface. By studying the Moon, scientists hope to gain valuable insights and make discoveries that can contribute to advancements in various fields, including technology, medicine, and a better understanding of the workings of the entire universe.