1) International Social Security Association (ISSA): Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) bags “ISSA Vision Zero 2023” Award at 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Sydney, Australia.
- Headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland, it was founded in 1927 under auspices of International Labour Organization.
- It is the world’s leading international organization for social security institutions, government departments and agencies.
- It aims to promote dynamic social security as the social dimension in a globalizing world by supporting excellence in social security administration.
- India is a member
2) Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA): Ministry of Coal has proposed 579 hectares of reclaimed land under ACA program.
- ACA, introduced under Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022, is a system of proactive afforestation to obtain approval for nonforestry use of forest land.
- Under ACA people and government entities can raise vegetation on fallow land and sell it to project developers who need to meet CA targets.
- Before this, Forest Department undertook compensatory afforestation (CA) only after approval of diversion of forest land for non-forestry use.
- CA is mandatory under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for non- forestry use of forestland
3) Mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA): Scientists used mt DNA to trace the origins of mummified baboons in Ancient Egypt.
- Mt DNA is a circular chromosome found in a cellular organelle called Mitochondria
- Mitochondria are the site of the cell’s energy production and other metabolic functions (hence also known as the powerhouse of the cell).
- They are found in the cytoplasm of cells.
- Offsprings receive mitochondria and, consequently, mitochondrial DNA from their mother.
- Nuclear DNA is found in the cell nucleus and inherited equally from both parents.
4) Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII): African leaders launched AGII at 28th Conference of Parties (COP28).
- AGII aims to accelerate green growth of industries in Africa and attract finance and investment opportunities.
- It incorporates elements of Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement, discourages use of fossil fuel and its production which causes global warming.
- It marks a concrete step toward realization of Nairobi Declaration, activating private sector-led scaling-up of green industrial clusters.
