Saudi schools to introduce yoga as a sport soon

will soon be introduced in schools in Saudi Arabia as part of the Sports curriculum due to its significance for mental and physical Health, the president of theSaudi Yoga Committee, Nouf Al-Marwaai, said. Notably, thecommerce ministryapproved the TEACHING and practice of yoga as a sport in the Kingdom in 2017.

With the cooperation of theEducation“>ministry of education, the president said that yoga will be introduced in the curriculum because of its multitude of health benefits. Earlier this week, there was an

introductory lecture highlighting the cooperation between the Saudi Yoga Committee and theSaudi School Sports Federation.

10% of ration shops double up as common services centres

At least one in every 10 ration shops in the country are also functioning asCommon Services Centres(CSC), offering a range of services to people and many ration shop owners are earning Rs 50,000 per month. A ration shop owner, not providing common services, usually earns about Rs 15,000-Rs 20,000 a month. WhileJharkhandleads among states and Union territories with a maximum of 6,632 ration shops providing these services, in addition to the distribution of foodgrains under theNational Act,

Maharashtra and Gujarat have 6,574 and 6,188 such ration shops respectively.

Union food secretarySanjeev Choprasaid currently nearly 60,000 out of the 5.3 lakh ration shops are providing services to people like the CSCs. The services provided include applying for government documents, payment of utility bills and sale of

Insurance policies as well. On the impact of ration shops functioning as CSC as well, the food secretary said this is giving good results in Gujarat where the ration shop owners are earning almost Rs 50,000 per month.

Soon, disabled people can own vehicles in their names

Come April, persons with disabilities (divyangjan) will be able to own a vehicle in their name and register it as a divyangjan vehicle.

Earlier, only persons with disabilities such as locomotor and hand or leg impairment could get a driving licence and register a vehicle in their name. Since thesevehicleshave a special mention of invalid carriage (IC) on the numberplate, persons with visual impairment were not

allowed to get a vehicle in their name as they would have to use the service of a driver. And, if a driver has been hired, s/he was not allowed to drive a vehicle with the IC logo.

The Union Government has notified the states of these changes in the policy, and it will be implemented inGujaratfrom April.

Japan, Philippines agree to sharply boost defence ties

The leaders of Japan and the Philippines agreed to sharply boost their DEFENCE ties, allowing Japanese troops greater access to Philippine territory, as tensions rise in Asia amid China’s growing influence. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is visiting Japan shortly after he and U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin reached an agreement on allowing the USA more access to Philippine

military bases to keep China’s ambitions in check.

The defence arrangement signed by Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will allow Japanese troops to join training exercises to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian needs in the Philippines.

The agreement is seen as a step toward broader military cooperation and could lead to similar agreements between Japan and other Southeast Asian nations.

Russia-China and South Africa starts joint military exercise

South Africa is beginning a joint military drill with Russia and China. The 10-day naval exercises, which will go on the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, have drawn criticism from the US as well. The South African government, however, insists that it is still impartial in the conflict and that it frequently hosts such exercises with other nations, such as France and the US.

The South African government, however, insists that it is still impartial in the conflict and that it frequently hosts such exercises with

other nations, such as France and the US.

Off the coast of South Africa, in the Indian Ocean, are the Mosi II naval drills.

Over 9 crore rural households receiving tap water: Centre

More than nine crore rural households across the country are now receiving clean tap water under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the government.

Since the announcement of the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019, households across 98 districts, 1,129 blocks, 66,067 gram panchayats and 1,36,135 villages have been receiving clean tap water, according to a statement issued by the

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Jal Shakti Ministry.

In Goa,Haryana,, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Dadra andNagar Haveliand Daman and Diu, every rural household has tap water supply

SMILE Scheme Launched

Department of Social & Empowerment launched the SMILE: Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise scheme on February

12, 2022, in New Delhi.

SMILE is a Central Sector scheme. It is dubbed as Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. It was launched by Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment. The scheme has been designed for providing welfare measures to Transgender community and people engaged in begging.

SMILE scheme seeks

to strengthens and expands the reach of Rights that give necessary legal protection and secured life to targeted group. It keeps in mind the social security required through multiple dimensions of identity, Education, medical care, shelter, and occupational opportunities.

ISRO PSLV-C52 Launch

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently launched the PSLV C52 rocket successfully. The rocket carried two small satellites and EOS 04. The two small satellites were Inspiresat 1 and INS 2TD. This is the first launch of 2022. And it is the

first launch since the failure of EOS 03 mission. The EOS 03 failed as the cryogenic upper stage did not ignite.

After 22 minutes of the launch, the fourth stage was passivated. This was done by removing excess propellants. The propellants used were mixed oxides of nitrogen and mono methyl hydrazine. Removing excess fuel is called passivation. Passivation lasted for ten minutes.

It is a radar imaging

satellite. It was designed to provide quality image. This includes Forestry, Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture, flood mapping, moisture, plantations and hydrology. It is to supplement the data from RISAT 2B series, Cartosat and Resourcesat series. The mission life of EOS 04 is ten years. It weighs 1,710 kg.

Umbrella scheme of Modernisation of Police Force

Union Government approved the Scheme of Modernisation of State Police Forces (MPF) for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.

This is a scheme to modernise and improve police forces across the states and union territories. It will continue for another five years.

A total financial outlay ofRs

26,275 crore has been dedicated to the scheme.

Under the MPF scheme, provision has been made for law & order, Internal Security, adoption of modern technology by police, assisting states and union territories for control. It also aims to strengthen the criminal Justice system by developing a robust forensic set-up in India. Central government will provideRs 4,846 crore to modernize state police forces.

Democracy Index 2021: EIU Latest Report

The Economic Intelligence Unit recently released the Democracy Index Report, 2021. The report described the state of democracy in 165 countries.

The report was prepared based on five parameters. They were functioning of the government, electoral process and pluralism, political participation, civil liberties and political culture.

Norway topped the index. The country scored 9.75. Following Norway, New Zealand was

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at the second position. Finland, Sweden and Iceland were at the third, fourth and fifth position respectively. Afghanistan scored the least with 0.32. Earlier North Korea was at the bottom most position.

One third of the world Population is living under authoritarian rule. 6.4% is having full democracy. The current global democracy score is 5.28 out of 10.

China was ranked at 148thposition. Myanmar: 166, Nepal: 1010, Pakistan: 104, Bhutan: 81, Bangladesh: 75, Sri Lanka: 67