Short news

Short news

72nd National Film Awards (2024)

• Context (PIB): Article 370 secured Best Feature Film, while Bhangaar and Ram-Nami won top non-feature film honors.
• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting administers these annual honours via the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
• Established in 1954, the awards honor cinematic excellence across feature, non-feature, and writing categories in India.
• Honorees receive Swarna Kamal or Rajat Kamal medals along with cash prizes from the President of India.

France Social Media Ban

• Context (IE): France became the first EU nation to enact a nationwide social media ban for children under 15.
• The policy aims to mitigate cyberbullying, safeguard adolescent mental health, and significantly reduce excessive screen time.
• Globally, Australia pioneered an under-16 ban, followed by restrictions in the UK, UAE, Malaysia, Türkiye, and Indonesia.
• Domestically, Karnataka emerged as India’s first state to announce an under-16 digital platform restriction.

World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026

• Context (IT): Shanghai, China hosted WAIC 2026, convening global stakeholders to deliberate on AI innovation and governance frameworks.
• Initiated in 2018, this annual summit takes place every July to address emerging artificial intelligence trends.
• During the event, 29 countries agreed to create the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) in Shanghai.
• While India attended the 2026 conference, it chose not to join WAICO as a founding member.

Lakadong Turmeric

• Context: Cultivated in Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills, this premium spice is famed for its 7–12% curcumin content.
• Grown 100% organically by native farmers using heirloom rhizomes, it secured a GI tag in 2024.
• Curcumin provides strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making the crop highly valuable for pharmaceutical use.
• India leads global turmeric production (over 70%), driven by states like Telangana, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.

Odesa Port

• Context (NOA): India strongly condemned the strike on commercial ship MV GOLDEN LEO off Odesa, which killed four Indian sailors.
• Located in the northwestern Black Sea, Odesa Port serves as a vital Black Sea-Azov basin maritime transit hub.
• Operational management of the port facility is administered by the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority under domestic law.
• The Black Sea connects to the Sea of Azov via the strategic Kerch Strait, separating the Kerch and Taman peninsulas.

Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY)

• Context (PIB): The Ministry of Culture called for applications under KSVY sub-schemes to boost India's creative economy.
• It is an umbrella Central Sector scheme offering financial grants to preserve, promote, and propagate Indian heritage.
• Key Sub-Schemes: Supports Guru-Shishya Parampara training, funds art/cultural events, and aids Buddhist/Tibetan culture preservation.
• It also funds cultural infrastructure, provides ₹6,000 monthly pension to veteran artists, and safeguards intangible heritage.

Maglev Trains

• Context (TH): Maglev technology uses computer-controlled magnetic fields to suspend and propel trains, eliminating wheel-track friction.
• It operates via Electromagnetic Suspension (attractive) or cryogenic Electrodynamic Suspension (repulsive) for levitation and linear motor coils for propulsion.
• Offering zero rolling friction, these systems exceed 400 km/h commercially and hold experimental speed records reaching 603 km/h.
• Beyond transport, it powers magnetic bearings, semiconductor cleanrooms, and military aircraft launchers (EMALS) despite high guideway infrastructure costs.