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• India and Taiwan signed a migration and mobility agreement that will facilitate the employment of Indian workers in Taiwan.
  • Though India and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic ties, the bilateral trade relations have been growing deeper. 
  • The total investment of Taiwanese enterprises in India is around $4 billion, covering areas including footwear, machinery, automobile components, ICT products, etc.

• APEDA has taken agricultural exports to USD 26.7 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23.
  • In 2022-23, India’s agricultural exports reached USD 53.1 billion, with APEDA contributing a significant 51% of India’s Agri-exports.
• About APEDA 
  • Established under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985.
  • APEDA is entrusted with responsibility of export promotion and development of scheduled products such as fruits, vegetables, poultry, dairy, confectionery products etc. 
• APEDA, as Secretariat to National Accreditation Board, accredits certification bodies under National Programme for Organic Production.

• "Aarogya-Doctors on Wheels" initiative is launched for the Udhampur district of J&K.
• It is an Artificial Intelligence-driven Tele Clinic to provide healthcare facilities in far flung areas of the region. 
  • Herein a patient can narrate his illness or complaint in native language and the AI doctor understands the language and responds to the patient in the same language. 
• This free telemedicine facility overcomes the problems of ‘Accessibility, Availability and Affordability'.

• Asteroids named Iris and Massalia (rich in silicate) were found to emit the unique wavelength that “unambiguously” indicated the presence of water molecules. 
  • Discovery was made by studying SOFIA's observations. 
    • SOFIA was NASA’s airborne astronomical observatory that was retired in 2022. 
• Asteroids 
  • They are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun. They are much smaller than planets.
  • Significance of water on asteroids 
    • Can shed light on how water was delivered to Earth.
    • Could be helpful in search for extraterrestrial life.

• The 58th Jnanpith Award for the year 2023 has been awarded to Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya ji for Sanskrit and Shri Gulzar for Urdu.
• Jnanpith Award
  • The Award has been given by Bharatiya Jnanpith annually since 1965 for outstanding contributions to Indian literature.
    • Bharatiya Jnanpith, formally established in 1944, is one of the premier literary organizations and publication houses in India. 
  • Recognized as the highest literary award.
  • Conferred for literature in Indian languages and English.
• Presented by Presidents, Prime Ministers and international celebrities.

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is organizing a special program for School Children called "Young Scientist Programme" or YUVIKA.
• Key objectives:
  • Impart basic knowledge on Space Science, Space Technology, and Space Applications to the younger students.
  • Encourage more students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) based research and aligned careers.
• Program envisages classroom training, practical demonstration of experiments, model rocketry interactions with ISRO scientists, and field visits.

• Sale of cotton candy has been banned in Tamil Nadu after samples reveal use of toxic industrial dye (Rhodamine-B) as artificial colouring agent.
  • It is prohibited in the food industry by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• Rhodamine-B:
  • Rhodamine-B is an organic chloride salt used as a colouring agent for dyeing in textile, paper, leather, and paint industry.
  • Impact on human health:
    • Immediate effect:  Stomach fullness, itching, and breathing problems.
• Potential Chronic Health Effects: Liver dysfunction, Intestine cancers, neurotoxicity, and Kidney failure.

• Efforts are being made to get UNESCO to declare the ongoing annual ‘Paruveta utsavam’ (mock hunting festival), as an ‘intangible cultural heritage’.
• Festival starts annually on Makarasankranthi at Sri Narasimha Swamy temple, Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh and lasts for about 40 to 45 days.
• Ahobilam is situated amidst Nallamala Forest in Eastern Ghats, and is the centre of worship of Narasimha, the lion-headed avatar of Lord Vishnu.
• It is one of 108 Divya Desams (Temples of Shri Vishnu). 

Vasudev Balwant Phadke (1845 – 1883)

• Home Minister paid tribute to freedom fighter Vasudev Balwant Phadke on his death anniversary. 
• Key Contributions:
  • Modern India’s first revolutionary, he is regarded as the "Father of the Armed Struggle for India’s Freedom".
    • He is said to be the inspiration for Bankimchandra’s Anandamath.
  • During the great famine, Phadke toured the Deccan fomenting disaffection against the British and pleading for Swaraj.
    • He formed a band of about 300 Bhils, Kolis, Ramoshis and Dhangras to attack British strongholds. 
  • Established Aikyavardhini Sabha and first school of national education in Pune.
• Values: Patriotism,Leadership, Courage etc.