Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)
ESIC has been awarded one certificate for its mobile application Ask An Appointment (AAA+).
- Awarded three certificates for Occupational Accident and Disease, Sustainable Investment, and System Resilience at Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and Pacific (RSSF Asia-Pacific).
- RSSF Asia-Pacific: Organized by International Social Security Association (ISSA) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
ESIC and AAA+:
- ESIC: Set up under Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 under the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
- AAA+: Serves insured persons, beneficiaries, staff, and ESI pensioners, streamlines healthcare services.
ISSA:
- Founded: 1927 under ILO.
- Principal international organization for social security organizations, governments, and departments of social security.
Brain Rot
Brain rot: Named the Oxford Word of the Year 2024.
- Result of overstimulation of the human brain.
- Refers to a decline in mental health and cognitive abilities due to excessive consumption of low-quality online content, particularly on social media.
- Associated with decreased attention span, reduced critical thinking, and mental health issues.
Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan
Prime Minister marks 9 years of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan.
- Also known as Accessible India Campaign, launched in 2015.
- Aims for universal accessibility across three domains: Built Infrastructure, Transport Systems, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ecosystem.
- Objectives absorbed into Creation of Barrier-Free Environment Scheme under Scheme for Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA).
MH-60R Helicopters
U.S. approved $1.17 billion deal to sell India support equipment for MH-60R helicopters under Foreign Military Sales programme.
- Indian Navy commissioned first squadron of MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopters at INS Garuda, Kochi in March 2024.
- Part of a $2.6-billion Foreign Military Sales deal for 24 Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk.
- MH-60R helicopters: Provide Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) capabilities.
- Operate from shore and ship.
- Equipped with advanced digital sensors including multi-mode radar, electronic support measures system, electro-optical/infrared camera.
All-India House Price Index (HPI)
Reserve Bank of India released its quarterly House Price Index (HPI).
- HPI: Increased by 4.3% year on year in quarter 2: 2024-25, up from 3.3% in the previous quarter.
- Bengaluru: Highest growth at 8.8%.
- Kanpur: Decline of -2.0%.
All-India Home Price Index (HPI):
- Base: 2010-11 = 100.
- Data Source: Transaction-level data from registration authorities in 10 major cities.
- Cities Covered: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai.