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07 August 2025
National Handloom Awards 2025
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Celebrated on 7th August 2025, marking the 11th National Handloom Day, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
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The official theme for 2025 was “Weaving Innovation into Tradition”, celebrating the fusion of heritage artistry with modern innovation
5 Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 19 National Handloom Awards were conferred.
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Sant Kabir Award includes: ₹3.5 lakh, a gold coin, tamrapatra (plaque), shawl, and certificate.
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National Handloom Award includes: ₹2 lakh, tamrapatra, shawl, and certificate
Events:
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“Know Your Weaves” Campaign at the National Crafts Museum
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Handloom Hackathon at IIT Delhi, theme- DREAM IT; DO IT
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Saree Festival at Janpath
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Fashion Shows: Vastra Veda and Naad – The Music of Weaves
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Haat on Wheels mobile handloom outlet
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India International Hand-Woven Expo
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PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
PM Gati Shakti is a visionary initiative launched in October 2021 to ensure seamless, integrated multi-modal connectivity across India. It's designed as a digital master planning platform that consolidates infrastructure initiatives of 16 central ministries onto a single GIS‑based portal.
Six Pillars:
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Comprehensiveness
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Prioritization
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Optimization
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Synchronization
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Analytical
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Dynamic
Features:
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Multi-modal Integration: Incorporates schemes like Bharatmala (roads), Sagarmala (ports), inland waterways, UDAN (regional aviation), dry/land ports
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Economic Zone Connectivity
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Nationwide Adoption: Presently, 44 central ministries and 36 states/UTs are on board
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District-level Planning
Myanmar’s acting President U Myint Swe passes away
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In Myanmar, acting President U Myint Swe passed away in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar.
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The acting president had been on a medical leave since July 2024, and transferred duties to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing since then.
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U Myint Swe was sworn in as vice president of Myanmar in March 2016.
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He became acting president in February 2021, after then-President U Win Myint was detained. Subsequently, U Myint Swe declared a state of emergency and the state power was transferred to Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Min Aung Hlaing.
About Myanmar
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Official Name: Republic of the Union of Myanmar (former Name: Burma Of
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Capital : Naypyidaw (since 2005; formerly Yangon/Rangoon)
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Largest City: Yangon
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Geographical Location Southeast Asia; shares borders with India, China, Laos, Thailand, and Bangladesh
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Currency: Kyat (MMK)
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Independence from Britain: January 4, 1948
Mahanadi Water Dispute
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The Mahanadi Water Dispute is a long-standing conflict between Chhattisgarh and Odisha over the sharing of the Mahanadi River’s waters.
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Odisha alleges that Chhattisgarh is constructing dams and barrages on the upper reaches of the Mahanadi, reducing the flow of water into lower basins of river in Odisha, especially during the dry season.
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2016: Odisha approaches the Central Government under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
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2018: The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal is formed by the Centre, Chairperson: Justice A.M. Khanwilkar
Mahanadi River
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Origin: Sihawa hills, Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh
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Length: Approx. 851 km
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Flows through: Chhattisgarh and Odisha
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Type: Peninsular/ Rainfed River
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Empties into: Bay of Bengal
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Major Dams: Hirakud Dam (Odisha)
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Tributaries: Right Bank- Tel, Jonk, Ong (south), Left Bank- Seonath (Largest tributary), Mand, Ib, Hasdeo, Kelo (north)
WHO Classifies Hepatitis D as Cancerous Virus
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently classified the Hepatitis D virus (HDV) as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is cancer-causing in humans.
What is Hepatitis D?
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Also called Delta Hepatitis.
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Requires Hepatitis B virus (HBV) to replicate — it cannot infect alone.
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Causes more severe liver disease than HBV alone.
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Increases the risk of:
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Liver cirrhosis
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Hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer)
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Liver failure
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Recommendations by WHO
HBV vaccination is the primary prevention method (as HDV needs HBV for replication). Enhanced screening, monitoring, and treatment protocols for HBV-infected individuals to prevent HDV co-infection.
Mode of Transmission
Hepatitis D spreads similarly to hepatitis B and C. Transmission occurs through blood and bodily fluids. This includes unsafe injections, blood transfusions, mother-to-child transmission, and unprotected sexual contact.
Cambodia, Thailand sign ceasefire agreement
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Cambodia and Thailand signed a ceasefire agreement during an extraordinary General Border Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur (Malesia) .
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They also agreed to treat captured soldiers under international humanitarian law and maintain dialogue through a bilateral process. Meanwhile, Cambodia dismissed Thailand’s legal threats as baseless and politically motivated.
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Despite border clashes on July 24 Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to peace.
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The next meeting is scheduled within a month to ensure ongoing cooperation and regional stability.
About Cambodia
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Location - Southeast Asia, in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula.
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Capital - Phnom Penh
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Currency - Cambodian Riel (KHR)
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Language - Khmer
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Religion - Theravada Buddhism
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Boundary –
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Thailand – to the west and northwest
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Laos – to the north
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Vietnam – to the east and southeast
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Gulf of Thailand – to the southwest (coastal boundary)
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Government type - Monarch, King- Norodom Sihamoni
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Prime Minister - Hun Manet
About Thailand
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Location - Southeast Asia, at the center of the Indochinese Peninsula.
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Capital - Bangkok
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Currency - Thai Baht (THB)
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Language - Thai
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Religion - Theravada Buddhism
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Boundary
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Myanmar (Burma) – to the northwest and west
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Laos – to the north and northeast
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Cambodia – to the southeast
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Malaysia – to the south
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Coastal- Andaman Sea (west) and Gulf of Thailand (south-east)
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Government type - Monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)
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Unitary - parliament
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Prime Minister - Srettha Thavisin
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