Today in History (July 10^th, 1806)

In 1806, the Vellore mutiny broke out against the British by south Indian soldiers at Vellore. The Vellore Mutiny was the first large-scale mutiny by Indian soldiers against the British, setting the stage for the 1857 mutiny.

Let’s revise

A) Select the correct option for capital of Jammu and Kashmir

1. Jammu
2. Srinagar
3. Jammu and Srinagar
4. Kashmir

Ans. (3)

B) Who is the Attorney General of India?

1. R. Venkataramani
2. Tushar Mehta
3. R. Krishnamurthy
4. Rajiv Mangal

Ans. (1)

C) Naavu Manujaru is in news, what it is?

1. A festival in Karnataka
2. A programme in schools for social harmony in Karnataka
3. A new district in Karnataka
4. A boat race in Karnataka

Ans. (3)

D) According to the Forest Survey of India report 2021, which mega city has the highest forest coverage as total percentage of geographical area?

1. Delhi
2. Mumbai
3. Bengaluru
4. None of the above

Ans. (1)

E) Recently Indian PM and Russian President have the ______annual summit in Russia?

1. 22nd
2. 23rd
3. 15th
4. 45th

Ans. (1)

F) Which one is not the classical language in India?

1. Tamil, Telugu
2. Kannad, Malyalam
3. Sanskrit, Odia
4. Marathi, Maithili

Ans. (4)

G) Which one is the latest language included in the list of classical languages of India?

1. Tamil
2. Telugu
3. Kannad
4. Odia

Ans. (4)

H) Which one is the capital of Philippines?

1. Manila
2. Caloocan
3. Quezon
4. Luzon

Ans. (3)

Summary of Today’s News

Classical languages in India

• In a significant move to deepen cultural ties, the Centre has decided to include Farsi (Persian) as one of the nine classical languages in India under the New Education Policy.
Classical Languages in India
• As of now, India recognizes six languages as classical, including Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014).
• In addition to these classical languages Pali, Persian, and Prakrit and their works of literature are to be preserved according to India’s National Education Policy-2020.
• The addition of Farsi (Persian) brings the total to nine classical languages (Needs more clarification).

A New Trend of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir we need multilayered strategy

• Recent Incident: Five Indian Army personnel were killed in an ambush in Jammu.
• Significant Date: The death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen operative Burhan Wani, killed on July 8, 2016, in south Kashmir.
• Emerging Trend: A new wave of terrorism is emerging in Jammu.
• Historical Context: The region has been quiet for over two decades after being a hotbed of insurgency in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
• Previous Operations: Insurgency was brought under control by Operation Sarp Vinash in 2003, with local support, especially from the Gujjar-Bakerwal community.
• Unacceptable Losses: Recurring attacks and casualties are unacceptable for the highly trained Indian Army.
• Operational Improvements Needed: There is a need for stricter adherence to standard operating procedures and improved operations.
• Ceasefire Status: While the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) largely holds, the increase in terror incidents is concerning, particularly the shift in violence.
• Factors Contributing to the Trend:

• Redeployment of troops to the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh following the 2020 standoff with China, leading to a gap in local intelligence.
• Increased use of modern and easily available technology by terrorists.
• Botched security operations damaging trust between the local population and the state.
• Shift from foreign terrorists crossing the LoC to local militants leading attacks, giving insurgency a home-grown face.

• International Pressure: International pressure on Pakistan has led to new terror groups claiming responsibility for attacks.
• New Challenges: These aspects present new challenges that require a multi-layered strategy beyond just increasing troop levels.
• Necessary Actions: Quick and decisive action at the highest levels of government, involving all stakeholders, is essential.

DU’s Law Faculty to Introduce Courses on New Laws in Upcoming Academic Session

• Introduction of New Courses: Delhi University’s Faculty of Law is amending its syllabus for the upcoming academic session to include three new courses on recently enacted criminal laws.
• Replacement of Old Courses: Courses on the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act, 1872, will be replaced with courses on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.
• Approval and Implementation: The new courses, drafted by the Law Faculty’s Committee of Courses and approved by the Standing Committee on Academic Matters in late June, are on the agenda for the Academic Council meeting on July 12. The new session begins in August.
• Preparation for Change: Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Anju Vali Tikoo, mentioned that if the proposal is approved, the new courses will be taught from the start of the new academic session. Training workshops for teachers are already underway to help incorporate the changes.
• Transition Challenges: Although the content of the new courses is largely similar to the old ones, students and teachers will need to memorize the new sections. Assistant Professor Megh Raj, a member of the Committee of Courses, noted that while there might be some initial confusion, updating the syllabus is a positive step.
• Core Papers and Special Classes: The new laws will be taught as core papers in the first and second years. Special classes will be arranged for students who have already studied the old laws to ensure they are prepared for practice and competitive examinations.

India and Russia to Boost Bilateral Trade to $100 Billion by 2030

• Trade Target: India and Russia have agreed to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030, using national currencies to bypass Western sanctions.
• Leaders’ Agreement: During the 22nd Annual Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed cooperation in energy, infrastructure development, agriculture, and improving connectivity.
• Joint Statements: Agreements included projects in Russia’s Far East, eliminating non-tariff barriers, creating a bilateral settlement system with national currencies, improving customs procedures, and utilizing new connectivity routes such as the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime route and the International North-South Transport Corridor via Iran.
• Sector Focus: Priority areas for investment include the energy sector (including nuclear energy), infrastructure development, and investment promotion.
• Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs): MoUs were signed on climate change, polar research, legal arbitration, and pharmaceutical certification.
• Consulate Openings: Russia agreed to open consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg to support the Indian diaspora.
• Current Trade and Growth: Current bilateral trade stands at $65 billion, with significant growth due to India’s increased imports of discounted Russian crude oil. Russia-India trade grew by 66% last year and 20% in the first quarter of 2024.
• Economic Relationship: The target of $100 billion in trade aims to elevate the business relationship to levels comparable with India’s trade with the U.S., China, and the European Union.
• Shifting Focus: The summit’s focus on economic issues marked a shift from previous summits, which emphasized military supplies and defense partnerships. Leaders discussed delays in defense supplies and potential co-production of defense equipment.
• Highest Civilian Honour: Prime Minister Modi received Russia’s highest civilian honor, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, which had been announced in 2019.
• Future Engagements: President Putin invited Prime Minister Modi to return for the first “Extended BRICS” summit in Kazan in a few months.