The Prayas ePathshala

Exams आसान है !

1 – Kenya Receives an Agricultural Line of Credit Offer from India: GS II – International Relations:

About:

A line of credit (LOC) is a fixed credit limit that can be drawn upon as needed. In the event of an open line of credit, the borrower may take out further loans after repaying the initial loan balance, which they can withdraw as needed until they reach the predetermined cap.
What were the main points of the president of Kenya’s recent visit?
In addition to releasing a collaborative vision statement to increase marine participation in the Indian Ocean region, India and Kenya inked five agreements allowing for cooperation in a variety of fields, such as sports, education, and digital solutions.
India also brought up the matter of the two Indian nationals who vanished in the nation of east Africa the previous year.
Strengthening bilateral ties in the areas of energy, trade, healthcare, digital public infrastructure, and defence was agreed upon by both parties.
The two sides discussed enhancing defence cooperation, with a focus on strengthening military drills, developing capability, and establishing connections between their respective defence businesses.
Kenya welcomed Indian businesses to invest, particularly in the fields of green energy, manufacturing, agriculture, health, and pharmaceuticals, to benefit from the favourable and alluring environment in Kenya.
Since terrorism is the biggest threat, both parties have resolved to intensify their counterterrorism cooperation.

What Are the Most Important facts related to Kenya?

East Africa is home to Kenya. Its topography rises to mountains and plateaus in the centre from a low coastal plain on the Indian Ocean.
Kenya has long been a hub for trade and travel between people in Africa and the Middle East due to its location between the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria.
As a result, there are numerous ethnic groups and languages within this diversified civilization.
In Kenya’s Turkana Basin, the bones of one of the earliest known human progenitors were uncovered.
As part of the Omo-Turkana basin, which spans four countries—Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda—is Lake Turkana, the biggest desert lake in the world.
UN-Habitat’s main office is located in Nairobi, Kenya, in the United Nations Office.

Source – The Hindu

2 – New Regulations by AICTE: GS II – Government Policies and Interventions:

Which of the New Regulations’ principal features stand out?

Extension of Regulations:

In order to guarantee coordinated development in technical and management education, undergraduate (UG) courses in computer applications (BCA) and management (BBA/BMS) will fall under the purview of AICTE.
BBA and BCA programmes are now allowed to be offered by engineering colleges, broadening their scope beyond traditional engineering subjects.

Institutional Adaptability:

Institutions that do well will have the option of having their approval period extended for up to three years.
Currently, each technical education institution must reapply for authorization annually.

Enhancing One’s Career for Working Professionals:

For some institutes, flexible study schedules have been implemented, enabling working professionals—like diploma holders—to pursue lateral entrance into engineering degrees. This allows them to study for longer periods of time while still meeting their professional obligations.

Initiatives for Professional Upgradation:

Over 300 institutions around the country have been identified and chosen by AICTE to provide working people wishing to further their education with a limited number of seats in diploma, UG, and PG engineering programmes.
Reductions in the ranking criteria are granted to areas without appropriate institutes.

Focus on Regional Languages:

In an effort to support regional language instruction in technical subjects, AICTE has issued academic texts in 13 regional languages, including engineering.
Collaborations between Industry and Polytechnic Autonomy:
The AICTE is giving polytechnic colleges more autonomy and promoting industry partnerships for the awarding of degrees while emphasising employability and streamlining placements.

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE): What is it?

Under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is a national-level council for technical education and a statutory entity.
It was established as a top advisory council at the national level in November 1945.

Source – The Hindu

3 – Sugarcane Juice Prohibited for Ethanol: GS III – Environmental Conservation related issues:

In an effort to preserve sufficient sugar supply for domestic consumption and stabilise prices, the Centre recently banned the use of sugarcane juice and sugar syrup for ethanol manufacture in the 2023–24 supply year. Nonetheless, B-molasses may now be used to produce ethanol according to government regulations.

To make matters more complicated, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) predicts a 9% decrease in gross sugar production for the 2023–2024 marketing year.
During Sugar Season (Oct-Sep) 2021–2022, India became the world’s biggest producer, user, and exporter of sugar, ranking second globally behind Brazil.

Source – The Hindu

4 – Progress in the Treatment of tuberculosis: GS II – Health related issues:

With the introduction of four new, enhanced medication regimens that promise to cut the length of treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) by up to two thirds, the Union World Conference on Lung Health in 2023 signalled an encouraging turn in the fight against TB.
Patients become unable to tolerate medications due to the prolonged course of therapy and the ensuing drug toxicity, which also results in noncompliance with prescribed regimens. Drug-resistant TB is the end result of this.
These regimens, which aim to provide more effective treatment, are far shorter than standard therapies while still demonstrating comparable efficacy and safety.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease that typically affects the lungs. When sick people cough, sneeze, or spit, the infection spreads via the air.
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) continues to be a public health emergency and a health security concern, according to WHO. In 2022, only roughly 2 out of 5 patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis received therapy.

Source – The Hindu

5 – Hanukkah: GS II – International issues:

Hanukkah, commonly referred to as Chanukah or the Festival of Lights, begins on December 7, 2023, at dusk.
The Jewish holiday, which spans eight days, honours the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the year 2CE.
In the Gregorian calendar, the event typically takes place in late November or early December, starting on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev.
Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of a limited amount of oil that, while only being sufficient for one day, lit the Temple’s menorah (candelabrum) for eight days during the Maccabean insurrection.
During the eight-day Hanukkah celebration, the nine-branched menorah known as the Hanukkah menorah is lit.

Source – The Hindu