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1. Recently, the Prime Minister extended wishes to Israel's Prime Minister and the Jewish community for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. This sacred occasion marks the start of Tishri, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, and is believed to be the day God created the world, including Adam and Eve. Rosh Hashanah is also known as Yom Hadin (Day of Judgment), when God opens the Books of Life and Death, sealed on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. During Yom Kippur, Jews seek forgiveness and a fresh start. A key ceremony during Rosh Hashanah involves blowing the shofar, an ancient instrument made from a ram's horn, accompanied by community prayers near a body of water.
2. The Samajik Adhikarita Shivir, or Social Empowerment Camps, are initiatives organized to distribute assistive devices to individuals with disabilities and senior citizens. Established in 1981, these camps are coordinated by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in collaboration with ALIMCO (Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation) and local administrations. The camps align with the definitions of disabilities outlined in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. Grants-in-aid are provided to various agencies, including ALIMCO and NGOs, for the purchase and distribution of aids under the Assistance to Disabled Persons (ADIP) Scheme. This scheme offers modern rehabilitation aids and support for corrective surgeries, and it was last updated in April 2024, with continuity until March 2026.
3. India and Uzbekistan recently signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) aimed at providing robust protection for investors from both nations. The treaty guarantees a minimum standard of treatment and non-discrimination, along with provisions for independent arbitration in case of disputes. Both countries retain the right to regulate and implement public interest policies without undermining investor protection. India ranks among Uzbekistan's top ten trade partners, with bilateral trade valued at USD 756.60 million and Indian investments totaling USD 61 million, primarily in pharmaceuticals, amusement parks, automobile components, and the hospitality sector. In 2019, the two countries initiated a feasibility study for a preferential trade agreement (PTA). Notably, the 2nd Prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri, passed away in Tashkent shortly after signing the Tashkent Declaration, which established a ceasefire during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
4. The 2024 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize has been awarded to Alexander Dunn from the Georgia Institute of Technology for his significant contributions to the study of modular forms, half-integral weight forms, metaplectic forms, and their connections to prime numbers and integer partitions. Established in 2005 by the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) University in Tamil Nadu, the prize includes a cash award of USD 10,000. It is given annually to mathematicians aged 32 or younger who have made exceptional contributions, particularly in areas inspired by the work of the renowned Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Born on December 22, 1887, in Tamil Nadu, Ramanujan made groundbreaking contributions to number theory, elliptic functions, partition theory, and hypergeometric series. His extraordinary talent was recognized by G.H. Hardy in 1913, leading to his collaboration at Cambridge.
5. The Vice-President of India recently addressed participants at the inaugural International Strategic Engagement Programme (IN-STEP) in New Delhi, emphasizing the importance of multilateral cooperation to combat modern threats such as cybercrime, terrorism, and climate change. He highlighted the philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family), underscoring its significance in promoting unity and collaboration to tackle cross-border challenges. IN-STEP serves as a platform for participants to exchange ideas, explore diverse perspectives, and formulate strategies to address pressing security issues. The gathering included 27 international delegates from 21 countries, along with 11 senior Indian military and civil officers. This program is a collaborative initiative involving the National Security Council Secretariat, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ministry of Defence.