1. Awards
Dr. B.C. Roy Award:
Instituted by: Medical Council of India (MCI) in 1962.
Field: Medicine (Highest medical honour in India).
Kalidas Samman:
Instituted by: Madhya Pradesh Government.
Field: Arts (Prestigious, annual).
First Awarded: 1980.
Recipients mentioned: Anil Rastogi (2019, Theater), Nand Kishore Bhatt (2021).
Kalinga Prize:
Awarded by: UNESCO.
Purpose: For the Popularization of Science (exceptional skill in presenting scientific ideas to lay people).
Established: 1952 (following a donation from Biju Patnaik, Kalinga Foundation Trust).
International Film Award (First Indian Actress):
Recipient: Suchitra Sen.
Award: Best Actress at Moscow Film Festival.
Film: 'Saat Pake Bandha' (1963).
National Film Awards (Maximum Overall):
Record Holder: Satyajit Ray (32 wins across categories, including 6 for direction).
Other Recognition: Received Bharat Ratna posthumously (1992).
Dronacharya Award:
Given to: Coaches in India (Sports and Games).
Purpose: Recognition for contribution to sport / athlete's rise; for producing medal winners at prestigious international events.
Instituted: 1985.
Award includes: Cash prize (Rs. 15 Lakh), bronze statue of Dronacharya, scroll of honour.
Borlaug Award:
Field: Outstanding work in Agriculture and Environment.
Awarded to: Indian scientists for research and contribution.
Established: 1972.
Named after: Norman Borlaug (Nobel Peace Prize laureate 1970, "Father of Green Revolution").
2. International Organizations
United Nations (UN / UNO):
Purpose: Maintain international peace & security, protect human rights, promote sustainable development, uphold international law.
Founding: Successor to the League of Nations. Founded Oct 24, 1945. Charter signed June 26, 1945 (San Francisco) by 51 nations, came into force Oct 24, 1945. Name 'United Nations' coined by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt (first used Jan 1, 1942).
Membership: 193 member states (as per text). India is a charter member (joined 1945). South Sudan is the 193rd member. Germany was NOT a founder member. Total members at formation: 51. India elected non-permanent SC member 8 times (as of Oct 2020). 26 UN organizations work in India.
Headquarters (HQ): New York City, USA.
Official Languages: 6 - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish. Secretariat working languages: English, French.
Principal Organs (6): General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Trusteeship Council (Suspended 1994), International Court of Justice (ICJ), Secretariat. FAO and State Council are NOT principal organs.
General Assembly (GA): Chief deliberative, policymaking, representative organ. All 193 members represented. Meets annually, usually in September. Adopted 'Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States' (Dec 1974).
Security Council (UNSC): HQ: New York. Members: 15 total (5 Permanent - China, France, Russia, UK, USA; 10 Non-Permanent elected for 2-year terms). Canada is NOT a permanent member.
International Court of Justice (ICJ): Principal judicial organ. HQ: Peace Palace, The Hague, Netherlands. 15 Judges elected for 9-year terms (not 5) by GA and SC.
Trusteeship Council: Suspended operations Nov 1, 1994 (after Palau's independence).
Secretary-General: Appointed by GA on SC recommendation (5-year renewable term).
1st: Trygve Lie (Norway, 1946-1952).
2nd: Dag Hammarskjöld (Sweden, 1953-1961). Quote: "UN not formed to take humanity to Heaven, but to save it from Hell".
4th: Kurt Waldheim (Austria, 1972-1981). Also former President of Austria.
(Egypt, 1st African SG, 1992-1996).
Kofi Annan (Ghana, 1997-2006).
Current (as per text): Antonio Guterres (Portugal, 9th SG, since Jan 1, 2017).
Specialized Agencies / Funds / Programmes / Other Bodies:
Bretton Woods Institutions (1944): IMF, World Bank (IBRD). WTO followed later. The UN itself is NOT one.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization): HQ: Rome, Italy. Est. 1945. Leads efforts against hunger.
UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization): HQ: Paris, France. Est. 1945. Promotes education, science, culture. Includes International Institute of Education Planning (IIEP) in Paris. Manages World Heritage Sites. HRIDAY scheme (India) linked to WH site care.
UNICEF (UN International Children's Emergency Fund): Created 1946 for emergency aid post-WWII. HQ: New York. Nobel Peace Prize 1965, Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 1989.
WHO (World Health Organization): HQ: Geneva, Switzerland. Est. 1948. Directs international health matters. Declared India polio-free (March 2014). 'Be Healthy, Be Mobile' initiative (with ITU).
World Bank (WB): HQ: Washington DC, USA. Est. July 1944 (Bretton Woods). Provides loans to low/middle-income countries for capital projects. Includes IBRD and IDA. Cuba is NOT a member (as per text). Supported India's Neeranchal National Watershed Project.
IMF (International Monetary Fund): HQ: Washington DC, USA. Est. July 1944, operational Dec 1945 (Bretton Woods). Fosters global monetary cooperation, financial stability, international trade. Has 190 member countries (as per text). Does NOT create innovative business models directly.
ILO (International Labour Organization): HQ: Geneva, Switzerland. Est. 1919 (Treaty of Versailles). Tripartite agency (govt, employers, workers). Promotes labour rights/standards.
WTO (World Trade Organization): HQ: Geneva, Switzerland. Est. Jan 1, 1995. Successor to GATT. Regulates international trade rules. Promotes multilateral trade. 164 members (as of July 2016). Formed under Marrakesh Agreement. India is a member since 1995 (and was GATT member since 1948).
IMO (International Maritime Organization): HQ: London, UK. Est. 1948. Regulates shipping safety, security, pollution prevention.
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization): HQ: Montreal, Canada. Est. 1947. Specialized agency for civil aviation.
UPU (Universal Postal Union): Specialized agency for postal services.
WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation): HQ: Geneva, Switzerland. Est. 1967. Promotes IP protection.
UNDP (UN Development Programme): HQ: New York. Est. 1965. Focuses on global development challenges, poverty reduction. Publishes Human Development Report.
UNEP (UN Environment Programme): HQ: Nairobi, Kenya. Est. 1972 (Stockholm Conference). Coordinates environmental activities.
UNFPA (UN Population Fund): HQ: New York. Est. 1969. Focuses on reproductive and maternal health.
UNIDO (UN Industrial Development Organization): Est. 1966. Promotes industrialization in developing countries.
UNODC (UN Office on Drugs and Crime): Est. 1997. Deals with illicit trafficking, drug abuse, crime prevention.
UNWTO (World Tourism Organization): HQ: Madrid, Spain (since 1976). Promotes responsible tourism.
IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development): HQ: Rome, Italy. Est. 1977. Addresses rural poverty and hunger.
UNITAR (UN Institute for Training and Research): HQ: Geneva. Est. 1963. Training arm.
UNU (UN University): HQ: Tokyo, Japan. Est. 1972. Academic/research arm.
UNSSC (UN System Staff College): HQ: Turin, Italy. Est. 2002. Training for UN personnel.
Note: Red Cross is NOT a UN agency.
Other UN Info:
UN Consumer Bill: Defines rights (safety, choice, information, redress etc.). Does NOT include 'right to contest'.
Subsidiary Regional HQ: Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, The Hague. Rome is NOT one.
Geneva II Conference (2014): UN-backed conference on the future of Syria.
NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) (1968): Imposed by P5 nuclear powers. Aims to prevent spread of nuclear weapons, promote peaceful use, achieve disarmament.
Stockholm Declaration (1972): Led to creation of UNEP.
ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations):
Established: Aug 8, 1967, Bangkok, Thailand.
HQ: Jakarta, Indonesia.
Founding Members (5): Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand. Started with 5 members, not 3.
Members (10 total as per text): Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
India is NOT a member.
Purpose: Promote economic growth, peace, security, social progress, cultural development in Southeast Asia.
SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation):
Established: 1985, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Secretariat: Kathmandu, Nepal (established 1987).
Members (8): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. Malaysia and Myanmar are NOT members.
SDF (SAARC Development Fund): Est. 2005. Secretariat: Thimphu, Bhutan. Financial institution.
SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area): Agreement effective 2006. Singapore is NOT a member. India is an associate member.
BRICS:
Acronym for: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa.
'B' is Brazil, 'S' is South Africa.
South Africa was the last to join (invited Dec 2010).
NDB (New Development Bank): Renamed from BRICS Development Bank. HQ: Shanghai, China. Agreement signed 2014. President (as per text): Marcos Prado Troyjo.
Sri Lanka and Bhutan are NOT members.
OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries):
Established: Sep 1960, Baghdad Conference.
Founders: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela.
HQ: Vienna, Austria (since 1965). Zurich is NOT the HQ.
Members (13 as per text): Algeria, Venezuela, Nigeria ARE members. Kenya, Brazil, India, Dem. Rep. Congo are NOT members.
Purpose: Coordinate petroleum policies, manage oil supply/price. An example of oligopoly.
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization):
Established: April 4, 1949 (North Atlantic Treaty).
HQ: Brussels, Belgium.
Type: Intergovernmental Military Alliance.
Members (as per text/update): 31 members (27 European, 2 North American, 1 Eurasian + Finland joined recently).
India is NOT a member.
INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization):
HQ: Lyon, France.
Predecessor: ICPC (International Criminal Police Commission), founded 1923 in Vienna. Renamed INTERPOL in 1956.
World's largest international police organization (194 members as per text).
Other Organizations & Groups:
Amnesty International: NGO focused on human rights protection. Founded 1961, London. HQ location is London, NOT New York.
BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation): Est. 1997. Members include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand. Maldives, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia are NOT members.
CCNR (Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine): Oldest intergovernmental organization. Members: Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland.
Commonwealth of Nations: Political organization of 54 member states (mostly former British territories). Founded Dec 11, 1931. HQ: London. Member states have no legal obligations.
European Union (EU): Political/economic union (27 members as per text). Est. Nov 1, 1993 (Maastricht Treaty signed 1992). Argentina is NOT a member. European Commission is the executive body/driving force.
G7 (Group of Seven): Political forum of major advanced economies (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, USA). Represents ~60% of global net wealth (as of 2018).
G20, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation): India IS a member of G20 and SCO (joined SCO in 2017).
ISA (International Solar Alliance): Inter-governmental treaty-based organization. HQ: Gurugram, India. For countries between Tropics of Cancer/Capricorn.
BIS (Bank for International Settlements): HQ: Basel, Switzerland. Est. 1930. Serves central banks.
OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development): HQ: Paris, France. Est. 1961. Promotes economic progress/world trade. 38 members (as per text).
IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency): HQ: Masdar, Abu Dhabi. Est. 2009. Promotes renewable energy.
OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons): HQ: The Hague, Netherlands. Implementing body for Chemical Weapons Convention (entered force 1997).
Red Cross (International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC): HQ: Geneva. Est. 1863 by Henry Dunant. Humanitarian organization for conflict zones. Won Nobel Peace Prize 3 times.
Transparency International: NGO against corruption. HQ: Berlin. Est. 1993.
WWF (World Wildlife Fund): International NGO for wilderness preservation. Founded 1961. HQ: Switzerland. Logo: Giant Panda.
ADB (Asian Development Bank): Regional development bank. Est. 1966. HQ: Mandaluyong (Manila), Philippines. Financed Mechi River bridge (Indo-Nepal).
CIIL (Central Institute of Indian Languages): HQ: Mysore. Part of Ministry of Education (India).
ICAR-IIHR (Indian Institute of Horticultural Research): Main station: Bengaluru.
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology: Located in Pune.
FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry): Business organization association in India. Est. 1927.
Sahitya Akademi: India's National Academy of Letters. Promotes literature in 24 Indian languages including English.
IHRC (International Human Right Commission): NGO. Est. 2003. HQ: Geneva.
Reuters: International news agency. HQ: London (originally). Owned by Thomson Reuters.
IRRI (International Rice Research Institute): HQ: Los Banos, Philippines. Est. 1960. Includes Rice Gene Bank.
ISU (International Space University): HQ: Strasbourg, France. Est. 1987.
Note: L8 is NOT an economic grouping (unlike G7, G20, SAARC).
3. Space Programme (Primarily India/ISRO, NASA, Others)
ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation):
Formation: INCOSPAR est. 1962; ISRO formed Aug 15, 1969.
Founder/Father: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
HQ: Bangalore.
Launch Sites: SDSC (Sriharikota, AP), TERLS (Thumba, Kerala - initial).
Centres: VSSC (Thiruvananthapuram), SAC (Ahmedabad), UR Rao Satellite Centre (Bangalore - satellite design/assembly).
Commercial Arm: Antrix Corporation Ltd.
Key Indian Missions & Satellites:
Aryabhata: 1st satellite (1975, Soviet launch).
Rohini: 1st satellite launched by Indian vehicle (SLV-3, 1979).
APPLE: 1st communication satellite (1981, Ariane launch).
INSAT Series: Multipurpose geo-satellites (Comm., broadcast, weather). Started 1983 (INSAT-1B).
IRS Series: Remote Sensing satellites (Started 1988).
Chandrayaan-1: 1st Moon mission (2008, PSLV-C11). Confirmed water ice. Chairman: G. Madhavan Nair.
Mangalyaan (MOM): 1st Mars/interplanetary mission (2013 launch, 2014 orbit). 1st nation success on 1st attempt. Chairman: K. Radhakrishnan.
Chandrayaan-2: 2nd Moon mission (2019, GSLV MkIII). Orbiter, Lander (Vikram), Rover (Pragyan - 50W power). 13 payloads.
Gaganyaan: Planned 1st manned mission.
Aditya-L1: Solar observation mission (at L1 point).
AstroSat: 1st multi-wavelength space observatory (2015).
Kalpana-1 (METSAT): 1st meteorological satellite (2002).
Edusat (GSAT-3): 1st educational satellite (2004).
GSAT Series: Communication satellites (e.g., GSAT-11 heaviest, GSAT-29 with Geo Eye camera).
NAVIC (IRNSS): Regional navigation system.
GAGAN: Satellite-based augmentation system (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation).
EMISAT: Electronic intelligence satellite (2019).
Mission Shakti: Anti-satellite (ASAT) test (2019).
Indian Astronauts:
Rakesh Sharma: 1st Indian in space (1984, Soyuz T-11).
Kalpana Chawla: 1st woman of Indian origin in space (died in Columbia disaster 2003).
Launch Vehicles: PSLV (workhorse), GSLV (geosynchronous), SLV-3 (first indigenous), ASLV.
NASA (USA): HQ: Washington DC. Est. 1958. Missions: Apollo (Moon landings), Hubble Space Telescope (launched 1990), ISS partner, Mars rovers, Voyager, Juno (Jupiter), Magellan (Venus), Genesis (solar wind), MESSENGER (Mercury), Nustar (black holes), ICESat-2 (polar ice).
Other Space Highlights:
Sputnik-1 (USSR, 1957): First artificial satellite.
Luna 9 (USSR, 1966): First soft landing on Moon.
Luna 10 (USSR, 1966): First artificial satellite of the Moon.
Apollo 11 (USA, 1969): First manned Moon landing (Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin). Lunar Rover used in later Apollo missions.
ISS (International Space Station): Habitable satellite in Low Earth Orbit (~400km). International collaboration.
Eugene Parker: Theorized solar wind. Parker Solar Probe named after him.
China: Launched first quantum satellite ('Micius').
GPS: US system, ~24 satellites, ~20,000 km altitude, 12-hour orbit.
Geostationary Orbit: ~35,786 km above equator.
Smallest Spacecraft (as per text): Sprites (launched by ISRO). KalamSat (student-built, launched by NASA).
4. Defence System (India)
Missiles:
Shaurya: Canister-launched, hypersonic, surface-to-surface tactical missile (DRDO).
Pinaka: Multi-barrel rocket launcher system (DRDO).
Trishul: Short-range surface-to-air missile.
Prithvi: Surface-to-surface ballistic missile. Dhanush is naval variant.
Nuclear Tests (Pokhran):
Pokhran-I (1974): Code name "Smiling Buddha".
Pokhran-II (1998): Code name "Operation Shakti".
Organizations/Mottos:
DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation): Developed Shaurya, Pinaka, Daksh robot.
IB (Intelligence Bureau): Domestic intelligence. Motto: "Jagritam Aharnisham" (Always Alert).
Robotics:
Daksh: DRDO robot for handling/destroying hazardous objects (like IEDs).
5. Miscellaneous
Bretton Woods Conference (1944): Established IMF and World Bank (IBRD). Led to GATT (predecessor of WTO).
Sustainable Development: Term coined in Brundtland Report (1987).
Brexit: UK's withdrawal from the European Union.
Kyoto Protocol (1997): International treaty for emission reduction. Includes Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to reduce greenhouse gas production.
Tamil University: Located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. (Note: Appears potentially misplaced in the UNICEF section of OCR).
Banyan Nations: Indian startup, won Dell People's Choice award at WEF Davos for circular economy. Founder: Mani Vajipey.
Union Pacific Railroad: Operates in North America.
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