Today in History (February 1^st, 1977)

The Indian Coast Guard was established on February 1, 1977, to prevent the sea-borne smuggling of goods that hampered the economy.

Summary of Today’s News

Corruption Perception Index (CPI)

In recent release, India’s rank in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2023 has slipped to 93 out of 180 countries, with a score of 39.

• It is an annual index released by Transparency International,
  • Transparency International is a global civil society organization.
  • Its headquartered in Berlin, Germany
• Since 1995 (started), the Corruption Perceptions Index is the leading global indicator of public sector corruption.
• The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption
  • On a scale of zero to hundred
  • Zero indicates highly corrupt and hundred indicates very clean.
  • It uses data from 13 external sources, including the World Bank, World Economic Forum, private risk and consulting companies, think tanks and others.
  • The scores reflect the views of experts and business people, not the public.

Key Points about CPI 2023:

• • CPI-2023 results show that most countries have made little to no progress in tackling public sector corruption.
  • CPI global average score remains unchanged at 43 for the twelfth year in a row.
  • Denmark topped the index for the sixth consecutive year.
  • Somalia was ranked last, other countries occupying the bottom spots included: Venezuela, Syria, South Sudan and Yemen.
  • India has tied with Maldives, Kazakhstan, and Lesotho to rank at 93 out of 180 countries.
• In 2022, India was ranked at 85.
  • • Pakistan scored 29 with a rank of 133
    • China scored 42 and got the 76^th Rank.

Shumang Leela

The artists of Shumang Leela bear the brunt of the ethnic violence in Manipur which is also threatening the vibrant socio-cultural fabric of the state.

• It is a traditional form of theatre in Manipur.
• In this the roles of female artists are all played by male actors
• male characters are played by female artists in case of female theatre groups.
• It was started as a comic genre for royalty and has evolved into a powerful medium for mass education, entertainment, and relaxation.
• The tradition is believed to be descended from Lai Haraoba, a ritual of the Meitei community of Manipur.
• Purpose: The plays provide a vehicle for educating the public about social, political, and economic issues.

Alzheimer’s Disease

As per a recent study, rare medical accidents can lead to the transmission of Alzheimer’s from one human to another.

• It is a brain condition that causes a progressive decline in memory, thinking, learning, and organizing skills.
• It is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of all dementia cases.
• It involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language.
• It can seriously affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
• The condition usually affects people aged 65 years and over, with only 10% of cases occurring in people younger than this.
• Cause: The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not fully understood, but it is believed to be influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
• Symptoms:
  • The early signs of the disease include forgetting recent events or conversations.
  • Over time, it progresses to serious memory problems and loss of the ability to perform everyday tasks.
• Treatment: There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, but certain medications and therapies can help manage symptoms temporarily.

Kudavolai System

Kudavolai System tableaux got third best award for Republic Day Parade 2024.

Key Points

• Kudavolai System in ancient Tamil Nadu is called as the Mother of Democracy.
• In Tamil Nadu, Kudavolai electoral system emerged during 10^th (CE) century Chola era and is documented in Uthiramerur inscriptions.
  • Uthiramerur is a panchayat town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
• It was used to elect representatives to run the village administration.
• Villages were divided into wards with the residents of each ward electing their representatives through Kudavolai system.
• Contestants’ names were written on palm leaf tickets (volai), which were put into a pot (kuda), and a small boy would pick tickets to declare elected leaders.