International Albinism Awareness Day 2023

• June 13 marks International Albinism Awareness Day, a global initiative led by the United Nations to combat the inhumane treatment faced by individuals with albinism.
• The theme of this year’s celebration of International Albinism Awareness Day is “Inclusion is strength."

Albinism

• Albinism is a rare genetic condition characterized by a lack or minimal production of melanin, which leads to reduced pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes. This condition makes individuals more susceptible to the sun's rays and bright light.
• It is a non-contagious health condition but almost all people with albinism are visually impaired and are prone to developing skin cancer.

Joint Military Exercise “Ex Ekuverin” Between India and Maldives

• The 12^th edition of the bilateral military exercise "Ex Ekuverin" has begun at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand, between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force.
• This joint annual exercise, named after the Maldivian word for "Friends," focuses on strengthening cooperation in Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorism Operations as per the United Nations mandate.
• It also offers a platform for both forces to collaborate on joint operations related to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.

Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Former PM Passed Away at 86

• Silvio Berlusconi, the billionaire media tycoon who held several terms as the prime minister of Italy from 1994 to 2011, has passed away at the age of 86.
• He served as the Italian prime minister from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011.
• He was a member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2001 and had been serving in the European Parliament since 2019.

The Most Developed Constituency in India

• Among the 550 Parliamentary Constituencies in India, the Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary Constituency shines as a prominent example of development and progress.
• Udhampur-Doda-Kathua Parliamentary Constituency is only Constituency in India having three medical Colleges with the best infrastructure and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is also located in this constituency making it the best Constituency in India with the state-of-the-art health care facilities.
• This constituency has earned its name in India and in the world as the birthplace of ‘Purple Revolution’ which has given birth to Agri-tech Start-Ups not only in J&K but across the country.

Purple Revolution

• The Ministry of Science and Technology initiated the Purple Revolution or Lavender Revolution in 2016 through the Aroma Mission of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
• It aims to promote the indigenous aromatic crop-based agro-economy by shifting from foreign aromatics to homegrown kinds.

A $130 Million Loan Agreement Between India and ADB

• The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have recently entered into a loan agreement worth $130 million.
• This agreement aims to enhance agricultural productivity, facilitate improved irrigation access, and support the growth of horticulture agribusinesses in Himachal Pradesh.
• The ultimate objective of this initiative is to uplift farmers' income in the region.