Current Affairs Question - 20 November 2019

Explanation :

• The Kimberley Process (KP) is a multilateral trade regime established in 2003 with the goal of preventing the flow of conflict diamonds. The core of this regime is the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) under which States implement safeguards on shipments of rough diamonds and certify them as “conflict free".
• It is open to all countries that are willing and able to implement its requirements.
• KPCS imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free' and prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate trade.
• Under the terms of the KPCS, participating states must meet ‘minimum requirements' and must put in place national legislation and institutions; export, import and internal controls; and also commit to transparency and the exchange of statistical data.
• India is one of the founder members of Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and is the Chair of Kimberley Process for the year 2019 with Russian Federation as Vice Chair. India had earlier chaired KPCS in the year 2008.

Members

• The KP has 54 participants, representing 81 countries, with the European Union and its Member States counting as a single participant.

Explanation :

• Recently, Brahmaputra Pushkaram - a 12-day mega river festival was celebrated in the state of Assam starting from November 5 to November 16, 2019.
• It is a festival of rivers and it pertains to the 12 important rivers in India, namely Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, Chambal, Kaveri, Beas, Tapti, Godavari, Chenab, Krishna and Saraswati.
• This festival occurs once every 12 years for each river. Earlier, Brahmaputra Pushkaram was held in 2007.
  It is the second biggest river festival celebrated in Assam after Namami Brahmaputra.
• It is believed that Pushkarudu, also known as Pushkar God, who is powerful enough to make any river holy, will travel with Jupiter during this time, as Jupiter travels from one zodiac sign to another.