TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour 2. Operation Southern Readiness 2023 3. G-20 Conference on Crime and Security 4. Hierarchical double networks of polymers
1. Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
Syllabus: GS-2, International relations
Prelims: Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
Mains: India – France relations
Context:
France conferred PM Narendra Modi with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour:
- It is France’s highest civilian and military honour.
- It is the highest French decoration given to the most deserving citizens in all fields of activity. It has been conferred to prominent personalities for two centuries.
- It was established in 1802 by French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
- It has five degrees: Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer and Grand Cross.
- PM Modi was given the fifth honour.
- Although the award is given only to French nationals, it is also bestowed upon foreigners who have served France or uphold its values.
- Each year, around 300 people are given this honour.
- Some of the prominent awardees are Nelson Mandela, Angela Merkel, King Charles of England, Vladimir Putin and Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
2. Operation Southern Readiness 2023
Syllabus: GS-3, Security
Prelims: Operation Southern Readiness, INS Sunayna
Context:
INS Sunayna participated in Operation Southern Readiness 2023 at Seychelles.
Operation Southern Readiness:
- It is conducted by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
- CMF is a multinational maritime partnership comprising 34 countries and aims to uphold the Rules-Based International Order (RBIO) by countering illicit non-state actors on the high seas and promoting security, stability, and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters.
- It was formed in 2001.
- It is commanded by a US Navy Vice Admiral.
- India is not a member of the CMF.
- In the 2002 India – US 2+2 Dialogue, India announced that it would join the CMF as an Associate Partner.
- The visit of INS Sunayna was aimed at strengthening multilateral ties and enhancing cooperation.
3. G-20 Conference on Crime and Security
Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations, GS-3, Cybersecurity
Prelims: G20, concepts of NFT, AI, metaverse, etc.
Context:
The inaugural session of the G-20 Conference on Crime and Security in the Age of NFTs, AI and the Metaverse was held in Gurgaon.
Details:
- Over 900 participants from G20 countries, 9 special invitee countries, international bodies (INTERPOL and UNODC) and technology leaders and domain experts from India and across the world are attending the two-day conference.
- The conference will see discussions on topics such as internet governance, security of digital public infrastructure, legal and regulatory issues related to digital ownership, and responsible use of AI and international cooperation framework for dark net.
4. Hierarchical double networks of polymers
Syllabus: GS-3, Science and technology
Prelims: Hierarchical double networks of polymers
Context:
Low-energy-consuming switchable smart windows developed based on novel architecture for confining liquid crystals.
Details:
- A novel protocol for the confinement of liquid crystals in an architecture called hierarchical double networks of polymers can give next-generation solutions for low-energy consuming on-demand switchable smart windows operating between low and high transmittance.
- Interpenetrating polymer networks are soft matter systems that innovatively optimise different functionalities such as mechanical, optical, and electrical properties to provide novel solutions in engineering and biomedical applications.Â
- A specific class of these architectures, labelled hierarchical double networks, synergistically combining rigid and soft networks to realize thermal, electrical, and optical properties are currently attracting much attention.
- A research team from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Science, Bengaluru, has introduced double networks which are superimposed on liquid crystals.Â
- Their research has led to a well-controlled porous hierarchical network that confines the liquid crystal while allowing it to be electrically switched between its direction-dependent states and governing the dynamics through the created virtual surfaces of polymeric and gel nature.
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