Gita Press to receive Gandhi Peace Prize: A brief history of the publishing house

Gita Press, Gorakhpur, has been selected for the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021.

Gandhi Peace Prize

• Gandhi Peace Prize Awards for Social, Economic and Political transformation through Non-violence was instituted in the year 1995, on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, as a tribute to his ideals and contributions to humanity.
• Reward:
  • The award carries an amount of Rs 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and a traditional handicraft or handloom item.
    • The award is conferred by the President of India at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Consideration:
  • This award is given to individuals, associations, institutions or organizations who have worked selflessly for peace, non-violence and amelioration of human sufferings.
  • The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender.
  • The Award may be divided between two persons / institutions who are considered by the Jury to be equally deserving of recognition in a given year.
    • Work by a person since deceased cannot be the subject of an Award. If, however, his death occurred subsequent to a proposal having been submitted to the Jury(headed by the Prime Minister) in the manner stipulated in the Code of Procedure, then a Posthumous Award may be made.
• Previous Awardees:
  • Organizations: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ramakrishna Mission, Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, Vivekananda Kendra, Akshaya Patra, Ekal Abhiyan Trust, Sulabh International
  • Luminaries: Nelson Mandela, Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Oman (2019) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh (2020).

Gita Press

• Established in 1923 by Jaya Dayal Goyandka and Hanuman Prasad Poddar, Gita Press is one of the world’s largest publishers of Hindu religious texts, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages**, including 16.21 crore copies of Shrimad Bhagvad Gita.**
• Gita Press also runs a monthly magazine called Kalyan, which covers topics such as spirituality, culture, history, ethics and morality.
  • It also runs a charitable hospital called Kalyan Chikitsalaya in Gorakhpur, which provides free medical services to the poor and needy.

68 dead in Ballia amid heatwave: How high temperatures combined with high humidity can be fatal

At least 68 people admitted to a district hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia are suspected to have died between June 15 and 18 due to scorching heatwave conditions, with temperatures soaring up to 43.5 degree Celsius in the region.

Why do heatwaves cause deaths?

• High temperatures alone aren’t fatal in nature. It’s when high temperatures are combined with high humidity, known as the wet bulb temperature, heatwaves become lethal. Although the city wasn’t experiencing heatwave conditions — the maximum temperatures were in the range between 30 and 35 degree Celsius — experts said high humidity levels at the venue could have been one of the reasons behind the unusual death toll.
• The deaths in Ballia might have happened due to a similar reason. As per IMD, the relative humidity in the city on June 18 was 31 per cent and the maximum temperature reached 43.5 degrees Celsius. This means that the Heat Index (HI), or “real feel” temperature, touched 51 degree Celsius according to the calculations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) HI calculator. Such conditions could severely impact human bodies, sometimes leading to death.

How can high temperatures and high humidity impact humans?

• Experts suggest that high temperatures along with high humidity are dangerous for a reason.
• Humans lose heat generated within their bodies by producing sweat that evaporates on the skin. The cooling effect of this evaporation is essential in maintaining a stable body temperature.
• As humidity rises, sweat does not evaporate —just like clothes take a long time to dry in humid locations – and makes it difficult to regulate body temperature. And this could cause a heat stroke, which takes place only when the body temperature goes above 40 degrees Celsius.
• What happens is that excessive heat increases metabolic activity in the body, leading to a drop in blood pressure and oxygen levels with increased sweating — this is a condition called hypoxia.

India gifts missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam

• It is an indigenously-built in-service missile.
• It is a Khukri class missile corvette commissioned into the Navy on January 12, 1991.
• It has a displacement displacing capacity of close to 1,400 tonnes.
• It is capable of a speed of more than 25 knots.
• The Khukri class are equipped with Diesel Engines assembled in India.
• The ship is fitted with a medium-range gun, 30 mm close-range guns, chaff launchers, and surface-to-surface missiles.
• It performs a wide variety of roles, including coastal and offshore patrol, coastal security, surface warfare, anti-piracy, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.

Hindu Kush Himalayas are changing. Ramp up adaptation, urges ICIMOD

Hindu Kush Himalayas

• The Hindu-Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region encompasses Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• It is considered the Third Pole (after the North and South Poles) and has significant implications for climate.
• It contains the largest volume of ice and snow outside of the Arctic and Antarctica.
• The ice and snow from this region are an important source of water for 12 rivers that flow through 16 countries in Asia.

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

• It is an intergovernmental knowledge and learning centre working on behalf of the people of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH).
• It is based in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• It works for eight regional member countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Functions
  • It serves the region through information and knowledge generation and sharing to find innovative solutions to critical mountain problems.
  • It bridges science with policies and on-the-ground practices.
  • It provides a regional platform where experts, planners, policymakers, and practitioners can exchange ideas and perspectives towards the achievement of sustainable mountain development.

The remarkable endurance of the Y chromosome, ‘master of maleness’

• Researchers have discovered that the Y chromosome possesses genes that are vital to biological functions, including those linked to ageing and lifespan regulation.
• Genome sequences of the Neanderthals, an ancient relative of the modern human, harbour telltale signs of the replacement of the Y chromosome beginning from modern humans.
• The Y chromosome may have to relinquish its title of “master of maleness” to another chromosome in the times to come.

Chromosome

• It is a thread-like structure located inside the nucleus of animal and plant cells.
• Each chromosome is made of protein and a single molecule of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
• It is passed from parents to offspring.
• DNA contains the specific instructions that make each type of living creature unique.
• In humans, in addition to the 22 pairs of chromosomes in each, we have a pair of sex chromosomes called X and Y.
• All biological males have X and Y chromosomes and all biological females have two X chromosomes.
• The y chromosome known as the “master of maleness,” determines the biological male sex and carries genes that play a role in sex determination.

NIXI turns 20 in its continuous journey towards digital

National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI)

• It was established in 2003 as a not-for-profit organization under the Companies Act 2013.
• It is tasked to increase Internet penetration and adoption in India by facilitating the various infrastructure aspects to enable the Internet ecosystem to be managed and used by the masses.
• The four services which come under the NIXI:
  • Setting IXPs, towards Building Internet Exchange Points
  • .IN Registry towards building the .in domain digital identity
  • Indian Registry for Internet Names and Numbers (IRINN) towards Internet Protocol (IPv4 and IPv6) addresses adoption.
  • Data Centre services under NIXI-CSC towards data storage services.

Initiatives of NIXI

• **IPv6 Expert Panel (IP Guru):**IP Guru is a group to extend support to all the Indian entities that are finding it technically challenging to migrate and adopt IPv6.
• It’s a joint effort of DOT, MeitY & community to promote IPv6.
• NIXI Academy: NIXI Academy is created to educate technical/non-technical people in India to learn and relearn technologies like IPv6 which are normally not taught in Educational Institutes.
• NIXI-IP-INDEX: NIXI has developed an IPv6 index portal for the Internet community. This portal will showcase the IPv6 adoption rate in India and across the world.

INDIAN ARMY CONTINGENT PARTICIPATES IN MULTINATIONAL JOINT EXERCISE “EX KHAAN QUEST 2023” IN MONGOLIA

• It features participation from military contingents and observers from over 20 countries.
• The exercise is co-sponsored by Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) and the United States Army Pacific Command (USARPAC).
• The Indian Army is represented by a contingent from the GARHWAL RIFLES.
• The 14-day exercise is aimed at enhancing the interoperability of the participating nations, sharing experience and training uniformed personnel for the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO).
• The exercise will prepare participants for future UN Peacekeeping missions, develop peace operations capabilities and enhance military readiness.
• The exercise includes Command Post Exercise (CPX), Field Training Exercises (FTX), combat discussions, lectures and demonstrations.

United Nations Peacekeeping

• UN peacekeepers provide security and political peace-building support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.
• UN Peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles:
  • Consent of the parties
  • Impartiality
  • Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.
• Role of Security Council: The United Nations Charter gives the United Nations Security Council the responsibility to maintain international peace. For this reason, the international community usually looks to the Security Council to authorize peacekeeping operations through Chapter VII authorizations.
• UN peacekeepers are often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets.

PM Modi To Visit 11th Century Al-Hakim Mosque In Egypt

Al-Hakim Mosque

• Location: It is a historical mosque located in Cairo, Egypt.
• It is named after Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985–1021 AD), the sixth Fatimid caliph.
• The mosque was originally built by the Fatimid vizier Gawhar Al-Siqilli, but was incorporated into the extended fortifications built by Badr al-Jamali at the end of the 11th century AD.
• The mosque was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
• Architecture:
  • The mosque is constructed of brick with stone facades and minarets.
  • The plan of the mosque consists of a triangle with four arcades centering a courtyard. Two minarets flank either side of the façade.
  • Originally built outside Cairo’s northern wall, the mosque was incorporated within the city in 1087, transforming its own northern wall and minarets into an integral part of the fortifications.
  • The main entrance lies on the western facade of the mosque and is monumental in size and design. It is one of the oldest architectural examples of projecting entrances.

Dawoodi Bohra community

• Dawoodi Bohra community is a sect within Shia Islam known for trading and business acumen.
• India is known to have around 500,000 Bohras, including the diasporas spread across the world.
• A large number of the Dawoodi Bohra population reside in India, Yemen, Pakistan and East Africa.
• The Dawoodi Bohras also regard the Quran as the word of Allah as revealed to Prophet Mohammed al-Mustafa, and their lives revolve around its teachings.
• The Dawoodi Bohras throughout the world are guided by their leader, known as the al-dai al-mutlaq (unrestricted missionary), who first operated from Yemen and then, for the last 450 years, from India.

68 People Rescued From Mediterranean Sea By Russian Warship

Mediterranean Sea

• Location:
  • It is an intercontinental sea that is bordered by the continent of Europe in the north, by Asia in the east, and by Africa in the south.
  • In the west, the Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Oceanvia the narrow Strait of Gibraltar.
  • In the extreme northeast, it is connected to the Black Sea via the Dardanelles Strait, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosporus Strait.
  • The Mediterranean Sea is also connected to the Red Sea via the Suez Canal in the southeast.
• History:
  • It has been regarded as the birthplace of Western civilization.
  • Many ancient civilizations, such as the Phoenicians, Ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire, were located along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
• Bordering Countries:
  • 22 countries and one territory (Gibraltar - a British Overseas Territory) have coasts on the Mediterranean Sea.
  • The European Countries are Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece.
  • The West Asian (Middle Eastern) countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea are Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, the Palestine Gaza Stripand the divided island of Cyprus.
  • Five North African nations have coasts on the Mediterranean Sea: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.
• The Mediterranean Sea offers a staggering 46,000 km (28,600 mi) long coastline and includes 15 marginal seas, such as the Balearic Sea, the Adriatic Sea, the Levantine Sea and the Ionian Sea.
• Depth: The sea has an average depth of about 1,500 m and a maximum depth of 5,267 m at its deepest point, the Calypso Deep in the Ionian Sea.
• Rivers: A large number of rivers drain into the Mediterranean Sea, including the Ebro, Rhone, Po, Nile, Tiber, etc.
• Islands: Some of the large Mediterranean Islands include Corsica, Crete, Cyprus, Chios, Euboea, Lesbos, Mallorca, Rhodes, Sicily, and Sardinia. The island of Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Climate: The region is characterized by the prevailing subtropical climate known as the Mediterranean climate, with usually mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.
• Mediterranean Sea waters are more saline compared to the waters of the Atlantic. There is a continuous movement of water from the Atlantic into the Mediterranean and vice versa through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Swarm of Honeybees attacks 19 tourists in Dang near Gira Waterfall.

Gira Waterfall:

• It is a seasonal waterfall in the Western Ghats of India.
• Location: It is located near the Waghai village in the Dang district of Gujarat.
• It is a 75 ft fall that emerges from the Kapri Tributary and drops into the Ambika River.

Ambika River:

• It is a major westward flowing river that has a huge catchment area in two states, namely Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• Origin: The river has its origins in the Saputara Hills, near Kotambi Village in the Nasik district of Maharashtra.
• After flowing for a length of 136 km it drains in to the Arabian Sea.
• It has a drainage area of 2715 Sq.km. The Valsad, Dangs and Surat Districts of Gujarat and a small portion of the Nasik district of Maharashtra falls in the basin.
• Rainfall: It receives most of the rainfall from the South West monsoon from June to September.
• Tributaries: Khapri, Valam, Kaveri and Kharear are main tributaries of Ambika river.

UN adopts world''s first treaty to protect the high seas

• Nearly 200 nations signed the document, officially known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty, after agreeing to its terms in March following roughly 15 years of discussion.
• The treaty is meant “to prevent a cascading of species extinctions” brought on by overfishing, oil extraction, deep-sea mining and other activities with environmental impacts that occur in the high seas.

UN High Seas Treaty

• It is the first-ever treaty to protect the world''s oceans that lie outside national boundaries.
• It is also known as the ‘Paris Agreement for the Ocean.’
• It is a legally binding treaty that aims at protecting, caring for, and ensuring the responsible use of the marine environment, maintaining the integrity of ocean ecosystems, and conserving the inherent value of marine biological diversity.
• The treaty is built on the legacy of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which is the last international agreement on ocean protection, signed 40 years ago in 1982. UNCLOS established an area called the high seas.
• Highlights of the treaty:
  • It aims to place 30% of the seas into protected areas by 2030(a pledge made by countries at the UN biodiversity conference in 2022).
  • It will provide a legal framework for establishing vast marine protected areas (MPAs) to protect against the loss of wildlife and share out the genetic resources of the high seas.
  • It also covers environmental assessments to evaluate the potential damage of commercial activities, such as deep-sea mining.
  • The treaty aims at strengthening resilience and contains provisions based on the polluter-pays principle as well as mechanisms for disputes.
  • The treaty offers guidance, including through an integrated approach to ocean management that builds ecosystem resilience to tackle the adverse effects of climate change and ocean acidification, and maintains and restores ecosystem integrity, including carbon cycling services.
  • Treaty provisions also recognize the rights and traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities, the freedom of scientific research, and need for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits.
  • The treaty also considers the special circumstances facing small-island and landlocked developing nations.
  • It **will establish a conference of the parties (CoP)**that will meet periodically and enable member states to be held to account on issues such as governance and biodiversity.
  • The treaty also includes a pledge by signatories to share ocean resources.

High Seas

• The high seas begin at the border of countries’ exclusive economic zones, which extend up to 370km (200 nautical miles) from coastlines.
• Beyond that point, the seas are under the jurisdiction of no country, and all countries have a right to fish, ship, and do research.
• They make up more than 60% of the world’s oceans by surface area.
• Activities on the high seas are often unregulated and insufficiently monitored, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.

Microsoft admitted it was targeted in a cyber attack claimed by a Russian-linked group called Anonymous Sudan

Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attack

• A DDoS attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal traffic of a targeted server, service or network by overwhelming the target or its surrounding infrastructure with a flood of Internet traffic.
• DDoS attacks achieve effectiveness by utilizing multiple compromised computer systems as sources of attack traffic.
• Exploited machines can include computers and other networked resources such as IoT devices.
• Unlike other kinds of cyberattacks, DDoS assaults don’t attempt to breach your security perimeter. Rather, a DDoS attack aims to make your website and servers unavailable to legitimate users.
• DDoS can also be used as a smokescreen for other malicious activities and to take down security appliances, breaching the target’s security perimeter.
• DDoS attacks are carried out with networks of Internet-connected machines.
• These networks consist of computers and other devices (such as IoT devices) which have been infected with malware, allowing them to be controlled remotely by an attacker.
• These individual devices are referred to as bots(or zombies), and a group of bots is called a botnet.
• Once a botnet has been established, the attacker is able to direct an attack by sending remote instructions to each bot.
• When a victim’s server or network is targeted by the botnet, each bot sends requests to the target’s IP address, potentially causing the server or network to become overwhelmed, resulting in a denial of service to normal traffic.

DoS vs DDoS

• A DDoS attack is a subcategory of the more general denial-of-service (DoS) attack.
• In a DoS attack, a perpetrator uses a single Internet connection to either exploit a software vulnerability or flood a target with fake requests—usually in an attempt to exhaust server resources.
• On the other hand, DDoS attacks utilize thousands (even millions) of connected devices to fulfil its goal.