India deploys ‘largest unit of women peacekeepers’ to Sudan

India to host a summit of ‘Global South’ nations

• In a bid to articulate the views of the developing countries regarding the effects of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, India will hold a major international summit on January 12 and 13.
• Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said invitation letters had been sent to participants from “more than 120 countries”. 
• This summit, which will be called the ‘Voice of the Global South Summit’ under the theme — ‘Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose’ — essentially envisages bringing together countries of the global south and sharing their perspectives and priorities on a common platform across a whole range of issues.
• This initiative is inspired by PM Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas'. It is also underpinned by India's philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.’

India deploys ‘largest unit of women peacekeepers’ to Sudan

• India will deploy its largest single unit of women peacekeepers in Sudan’s Abyei region.
• The women peacekeepers are a part of the Indian Battalion in the United Nations Interim Security Force (UNISF).
• The Indian contingent, comprising two officers and 25 other ranks, will form part of an engagement platoon and specialize in community outreach, besides performing extensive security-related tasks as well.
• It said that this will be India’s largest single unit of women peacekeepers since it deployed the first-ever all-women contingent in Liberia in 2007.
• According to the UN Peacekeeping website, in 1993, women made up just 1 percent of deployed uniformed personnel. In 2020, out of approximately 95,000 peacekeepers, women constituted 4.8 percent of military contingents, 10.9 percent of formed police units, and 34 percent of justice and corrections government-provided personnel.

Caste­based survey of 12 cr. people in Bihar begins

• The Bihar government is set to start the first phase of a caste-based survey on Saturday.
• The survey, which aims to cover an estimated population of 12.7 crores, will end on May 31.
• All households in the State will be counted and recorded in the first phase, which will culminate on January 21.
• In the second phase of the survey, to be held from April 1 to 30, information regarding people living in these households, their castes, sub-castes, socio-economic condition, etc. will be collected.
• The survey will be a detailed record of castes and communities in the State. It will help in their development.