14^th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users' Conference (AOMSUC-14)

Context:

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is hosting the 14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users' Conference (AOMSUC-14) from 4th – 6th December 2024, in New Delhi. 

Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users' Conference 

It will feature high-quality oral and poster presentations, panel discussions, and a training workshop focused on applying current satellite data for meteorological and climatological applications. 

India is hosting this conference for the first time.

The conference aims to: 

• Promote the importance of satellite observations 
• Advance satellite remote sensing science 
• Provide a platform for dialogue and collaboration between satellite operators and users 
• Inform the community about the current status and future plans of international space programs 
• Encourage the development of new technologies for weather satellite sensing 
• Engage young scientists in the field

The AOMSUC will be followed by an international coordination meeting of members of Regional Association (RA)-II and RA-V countries at IMD, New Delhi.

The first AOMSUC was held in Beijing, China, in 2010. Since then, the conference has been hosted annually in various locations across Asia-Oceania. 

13^th Exercise Agni Warrior (XAW-2024)

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Recently, India hosted the 13th edition of Joint Military Exercise Agni Warrior (XAW-2024) at Field Firing Ranges, Devlali, Maharashtra, India.

Exercise Agni Warrior 

• This bilateral exercise witnessed participation by the Singapore Armed Forces contingent from the Singapore Artillery and the Indian Army contingent from the Regiment of Artillery.
• The exercise involved extensive joint preparation, coordination, understanding of each other’s capabilities, procedures and evolution of a common interface between Indian and Singapore Artillery procedures.
• Exercise aims to maximise mutual understanding of drills and procedures to achieve jointness as a multinational force under the United Nations Charter.
• The first edition of the exercise was conducted in 2004.

76^th district of Uttar Pradesh: Maha Kumbh Mela 

Context:

The Uttar Pradesh government has declared the Maha Kumbh area as a new district ahead of the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela.

More on the News

• The newly formed district will be known as Maha Kumbh Mela for four months from December 1st
• 2024 to March 31st 2025.
• Maha Kumbh Mela District will comprise four tehsils of Sadar, Soraon, Phulpur and Karchana along with 67 villages and the entire Parade area.
• The U.P. government’s decision aims to facilitate better organisation and governance during the significant religious event.
• The State has appointed a Mela Adhikari and he will have the powers of executive magistrate, district magistrate, and additional district magistrate under section 14(1) and other relevant sections of the Indian Civil Defence Code 2023.

The Maha Kumbh Mela 

It is known as the festival of the sacred pitcher anchored in Hindu mythology. 

It is the world’s largest public gathering and collective act of faith. This congregation, primarily, includes Ascetics, Saints, Sadhus, Sadhvis, Kalpvasis and Pilgrims from all walks of life.

In Hinduism, it is a religious pilgrimage that is celebrated four times over the course of 12 years. 

The geographical location of Kumbh Mela spans over four locations in India and the Mela site keeps rotating between one of the four pilgrimages on four sacred rivers as listed below:

• In Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on the banks of the Ganges
• In Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh on the banks of Shipra
• In Nashik, Maharashtra on the banks of Godavari
• In Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical invisible Sarasvati.

WTO’s Director-General

Context:

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has re-appointed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its Director-General for a second four-year term.

Who is Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala? 

• Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the seventh Director-General of the WTO. 
• She first assumed office as Director-General on 1 March 2021, becoming the first woman and first African to lead the WTO. 
• Her first term will conclude on 31^st August 2025 and 2nd term will begin from 1^st September 2025. 
• She is now the first director general to be appointed twice.
• She is renowned as the first female and African candidate to contest for the presidency of the World Bank Group in 2012.

Director-General of WTO

• The Director-General of WTO is appointed for a term of office of four years and is eligible for reappointment for a further term not exceeding four years.
• Peter Sutherland was the first Director-General of the WTO.

World Trade Organization (WTO) 

• The WTO officially began operations on January 1, 1995, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and is the only international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. 
• The Ministerial Conference is the supreme decision-making body, meeting every two years. 
• The General Council handles day-to-day decisions and oversees various councils, including those on goods, services, and intellectual property.
• The WTO has 166 member countries representing 98% of world trade. India is one of the founding members of WTO.