MOCI Minister Piyush Goyal Launched Bharat Startup Ecosystem Registry, Website & Logo of Startup Mahakumbh
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) unveiled a new database for India’s startup ecosystem, named Bharat Startup Ecosystem Registry, a website, and logo of ‘Startup Mahakumbh’ during the curtain raiser event of the first-ever ‘Startup Mahakumbh’. The registry will act as a single platform database for startups, investors, incubators, and other stakeholders in India’s startup ecosystem. The event was organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under MOCI.
Startup Mahakumbh: - The first-ever ‘Startup Mahakumbh’ is to be held from March 18-20, 2024 at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Delhi.
- It is envisioned to make the Indian startup ecosystem stronger to have global dominance and foster entrepreneurship among Indian youth.
- It aims to combine all stakeholders of the startup ecosystem to showcase entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation.
- The theme of the Startup Mahakumbh is ‘Bharat Innovates,’ which underscores the intricate link between innovation and startups.
- It will mark the beginning of an annual event that provides a platform to showcase the success and innovation of the startup ecosystem of India since 2016.
NABARD and NRLM Signed MoU to Support Rural Women SHGs
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana -National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), under the Ministry of Rural Development(MoRD), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at bolstering rural women Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Features of the MoU: - .Under this MoU, NABARD and NRLM will empower the Women SHGs through capacity building, marketing support, and financial inclusion initiatives. The MoU covers a period of 3 years.
- .The MoU aligns NABARD’s role as an enabler and facilitator in the SHG ecosystem with NRLM’s goal of promoting women-led development in rural areas.
Key Points: - The DAY-NRLM will collaborate with State/Union Territory (UT) Rural Livelihood Missions, integrating them as project implementing agencies(PIAs) with the regional offices of NABARD under development financial institution (DFI)’s capacity building, skilling & entrepreneurship training of matured women SHGs.
- The partnership will provide physical and online marketing support schemes, support the graduation of SHG clusters to Producer Organizations in both farm and non-farm sectors for sustainable economic activities.
- This will also promotes climate-resilient agriculture initiatives for women SHGs, livelihood interventions for women SHGs in NABARD’s Wadi and Watershed development project areas along with the deepening of financial inclusion.
- .The MoU also aims to develop pilots for digital transactions in SHG federations to enhance transparency and efficiency with quick turnaround time (TAT) for members.
- It also explores options to deploy women SHG members as business correspondents of banks.
About National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD):
NABARD is India’s apex development bank, established in 1982 under an Act of Parliament to promote sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural development.
Chairman–Shaji K V
Headquarters–Mumbai, Maharashtra
MoEF&CC Amends Green Credit Program Rules to Award a Green Credit per Grown Tree
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has notified the amendments to the Green Credit Rules of the Green Credit Program (GCP), which is an innovative market-based mechanism designed to incentivize voluntary environmental actions. Under new amendments, one Green Credit will be awarded to one grown tree.
About Green Credit Rules: - In October 2023, the MoEF&CC notified “Green Credit Rules, 2023” under sections 3, 6, and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986).
- Green credit would be awarded for carrying out positive environmental activities such as tree planting, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, or pollution reduction.
About the Amendment: - The new modified Green Credit Rules outlines the criteria for land eligibility; application procedures and standardised methodology for calculating green credits.
- Land Eligibility: Green credits will be given to the tree plantation on degraded land including open forest and scrubland, wasteland, and catchment areas, under the administrative control of states that have been identified by forest departments. The minimum land size for such projects is set at 5 hectares.
- Calculation of Green credits: The green credit will be calculated at the rate of one green credit per tree grown through the tree plantation on such land parcel, subject to a minimum density of 1100 trees per hectare, based on the local Silvi-climatic and soil conditions.
Benefits of getting Green Credit: - The new modified Green Credit Rules outlines the criteria for land eligibility; application procedures and standardised methodology for calculating green credits.
- The green credits can be exchanged for meeting the compliance of the compensatory afforestation in case of diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 (69 of 1980).
- It is also used for reporting under Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) leadership indicators and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.li>
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw releases Postal Stamp to Mark AIRF Centenary Celebration
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways (MoR) has released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the 100 years of the All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) in an event held at Karnail Singh Railway Stadium in New Delhi, Delhi.
Key Points: - AIRF is one of the oldest and largest trade unions in India.
- AIRF was established on 24th April 1924, but was recognized by Railway Board in 1929.
- .It is one of the biggest affiliates to International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
- AIRF engages in a continuous dialogue between the Organized Labour and the Railway Administration at various levels thereby contributing to the social and economic upliftment of railway employees.
- Ban on retrenchment of railway employees, salary redetermination, dearness allowance, bonus, promotions etc. are some of the facilities achieved by the effort of AIRF.
- As per the guidance provided by International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organization (WTO), AIRF introduced a Contributory Pension Scheme (New Pension Scheme).
About All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF):
President– N Kanniah
Headquarters–New Delhi, Delhi
Established in–1924
NGEL & MAHAGENCO Signed JVA to develop RE parks in Maharashtra
NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) and Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO) have signed a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) to develop Gigawatt (GW)-scale Renewable Energy Parks in Maharashtra in a phased manner. The agreement is in alignment with the green energy objectives of NTPC which aims to attain 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by the year 2032.
The agreement was signed by Abhay Harne, Director (Projects), MAHAGENCO, and V V Sivakumar, Chief General Manager (CGM) of NGEL in NTPC headquarters in New Delhi (Delhi) JVA was signed in the presence of Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), NTPC Limited; Mohit Bhargava, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NGEL.
Note:
NGEL is a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited.
NTPC is Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) functioning under the Ministry of Power (MoP).
CIL partners with BHEL to Develop Ammonium Nitrate Plant in Odisha
On 28th February 2024, Coal India Limited (CIL) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) signed a joint venture agreement (JVA) to establish an ammonium nitrate plant in the Lakhanpur area of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (one of the subsidiaries of CIL), Odisha. The plant will produce about 6.60 Lakh tons of ammonium nitrate annually through the surface coal gasification (SCG) technology route. For this purpose, CIL will supply 1.3 million tonnes (mts) of coal and BHEL will provide indigenously developed pressurized fluidized bed gasification (PFBG) technology. JVA was signed by Debasish Nanda, Director (Business Development) CIL and Jai Prakash Srivastava, Director (Engineering, Research & Development) BHEL. Note: CIL is a ‘Maharatna’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Coal (MoC) and BHEL is a ‘Maharatna’ CPSE under Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises (MoHI&PE).
Sangeet Natak Akademi Honors Six Artists as Fellows; 92 with Akademi Puruskar for 2022 & 2023
General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, New Delhi, Delhi, unanimously elected 6 eminent personalities in the field of performing arts as of Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna Sadasyata).
The General Council selected 92 artists from the field of Music, Dance, Theatre, Traditional/Folk/Tribal Music/Dance/ Theatre, Puppetry and Overall contribution/scholarship in the Performing Arts for the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the years 2022 and 2023. The council announced the winners of Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the years 2022 and 2023. About Sangeet Natak Akademi:
Chairman– Dr. Sandhya Purecha
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Establishment– 1953
LSAM 18 (YARD 128): Indian Navy’s 4th ACTCM Barge Launched in Thane
Indian Navy (IN) has launched an Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, LSAM 18 (YARD 128)’, 4th Barge of 11 x ACTCM Barge Project at M/s Suryadipta Projects Private Limited, Thane (Maharashtra).
The induction Ceremony was presided over by Commodore Shirish Dube, Directorate of Ship Production.
Background: - On 5th March 2021, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Suryadipta Projects signed the contract for building the 11 X ACTCM Barges.
- The induction of these Barges aims to enhance the IN’s operational commitments by facilitating seamless Transportation, Embarkation, and Disembarkation of articles and ammunition to IN Ships, both alongside jetties and at outer harbours
Key Points: - The Barges are indigenously designed and built by the classification Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
- The model testing of the Barge during the design stage was conducted at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
- These indigenously crafted Barges exemplify the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiatives of the Government of India (GoI).
Shafiqur Rahman Barq: India’s Oldest Lok Sabha MP Passed Away
India’s oldest parliamentarian and a founding member of the Samajwadi Party (SP), Shafiqur Rahman Barq passed away at the age of 93 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP). He was born on 11th July 1930 in Deepa Sarai, Sambhal, UP. He was serving as Member of Parliament (MP) of the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24) representing the Sambhal constituency of UP.
Shafiqur Rahman Barq:
As an MP: - He served as an MP for five times.
- He was initially elected to 11th Lok Sabha (1996-97)from the Sambhal constituency.
- He also represented Sambhal constituency in 12th Lok Sabha(1998-99) and 15th Lok Sabha(2009-14).
- In 14th Lok Sabha (2004-09), he represented Moradabad constituency.
As an MLA: - He served as a Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) in UP for four times in the years 1974-77, 1977-80, 1985-89 and 1989-91 respectively.
Rare Disease Day 2024 – February 29
Rare Disease Day is annually observed across the globe on the last day of February, either 28 or 29 in leap years (the rarest day of the year), to raise awareness of the rare diseases and their impact on the people they affect. Rare Disease Day 2024, observed on 29 February 2024, marks the 17th Observance of Rare Disease Day. The 2024 theme of Rare Disease Day is “Share Your Colours”. This theme is the continuation of the 2022 and 2023 themes.
Background: - .Rare Disease Day was launched by the European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS)-Rare Diseases Europe and its Council of National Alliances in 2008.
- The first Rare Disease Day was observed in 2008 with events in 18 countries.
- Since 2008, the Rare Disease Day events have been held in over 100 countries.
- The date 29 February was selected for observing ‘Rare Disease Day’ as it is a rare day that comes once every 4 years.
Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani Launched Logo & Website of Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality
Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), launched the logo and website for the Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality in an event held in New Delhi, Delhi.
About the Logo: - The logo forms the alphabet “e” symbolising Equality and Equity.
- The parallel strokes depict collective action by Governments, industry, and institutions to empower women globally.
- Tricolours signify Alliance values: Saffron for strength and courage; White for truth; and Green for growth and the red dot symbolises prosperity.
- The logo is inspired by Lord Ganesha, representing intellect, wisdom, and understanding.
About Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality: - Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality was launched by India on the sidelines of the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF 2024) held Davos, Switzerland in January 2024.
- The Alliance, aligning with India’s vision on women-led development, represents a setp towards the gender equality.
- The Alliance aims to consolidate global practices, encourage knowledge sharing, and attract investments in women’s health, education, and enterprise in line with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Note:The Alliance is supported by GoI, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; anchored by the CII Centre for Women Leadership; with the WEF as a Network partner; and Invest India as an Institutional partner.
12 Indigenous Products from Arunachal Pradesh get GI tag
Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN)- based Geographical Indication(GI) Registry has awarded the GI tag to 12distinctive products from ArunachalPradesh including Apatani Textile Product, Dao(broadsword), Adlay Millet, among others.With this, the total number of GI products fromArunachal Pradesh has become 20.
About Arunachal Pradesh
Chief Minister– Pema Khandu
Governer- Lt Gen Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
National parks– Mouling National Park, Namdapha National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Talle Wildlife Sanctuary, Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary
MoE & MIB Jointly launches nationwide awareness campaign “Mera pehla vote desh ke liye”
Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) have jointly launched a nationwide awareness campaign “Mera pehla vote desh ke liye (my first vote for the country)” to encourage the first-time voters to participate in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Union Minister Anurag Thakur, MIB & Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) launched a Campaign Anthem video to create awareness among first-time voters. About the Awareness campaign
- Under this Campaign, various events will be organised in universities, colleges, and higher education institutions.
- The campaign activities involve both on-ground physical events and online competitions on the MyGov platform
- The activities such as competitions on blog writing, podcasts, debate, essay writing, quizzes, extempore, and battle of bands will be conducted to show student creativity in content creation.
- Interactive workshops and seminars emphasizing the value of voting, and understanding the electoral process will also be organised at the institutions,
- .It encourages youth to take the voter’s pledge on the official website ecisveep.nic.in for their commitment to the electoral process.
- It also encourages to download the voter helpline app
Key Facts about Lok Sabha - The maximum sanctioned strength of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) by the constitution was 552 (530 representing states, 20 representing Union Territories (UT), and 2 representing the Anglo-Indian community).
The two seats for Anglo-Indians were removed by the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019. - The term of the LS is 5 years with effect from date of appointment.
Note:The 17th Lok Sabha(the current LS) has 543 seats filled by elected representatives (530 from states & 13 from Union Territories(UTs). The tenure of the current LS ends on 16th June 2024.
About Rajya Sabha: - The maximum sanctioned strength of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) by the constitution was 250 (238 representatives of the States and UTs, 12 members nominated by the President).
- The present strength of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) is 245, with 233 members representing the States and UTs and 12 members nominated by the President.
US Chamber’s International IP Index 2024: India retained 42nd rank; The USA tops
According to the 12th edition of the International Intellectual Property (IP) Index (2024) by the United States (US) Chamber of Commerce, India has retained the 42nd rank with an overall score of 38.64%. The United States of America (USA) has topped the list with an overall score of 95.48% followed by the United Kingdom (UK) in the 2nd place with 94.12% and France in the 3rd with 93.12%. About International IP Index:
- It provides a blueprint for economies aiming to bolster innovation and creativity through robust intellectual property (IP) standards.
- The Index assesses IP frameworks of 55 economies using 50 unique criteria related to patents, copyrights, enforcement, and more.
Note: Previously, Inida was ranked 42nd in 2023 and 43rd in 2022.
India's IP Strength:
- .The report highlights India’s commendable efforts, citing the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023, which includes new language and criminal sanctions on film piracy.
- Strong initiatives include dynamic injunction orders against copyright piracy, incentives for Research and Development (R&D), and IP-based tax.
Challenges and Weakness of India's IP
- The report expresses concerns about India’s IP regime, emphasising issues such as the dissolution of the Intellectual Property Appellate Board in 2021.
- India faces challenges with an under-resourced judiciary, impacting rights holders’ ability to enforce IP rights and resolve IP-related disputes.
- .Limited protection for biopharmaceutical IP rights is also noted.
Sunil Bharti Mittal to be Conferred With Honorary Knighthood by King Charles III of UK
Sunil Bharti Mittall, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises became the 1st Indian citizen to be conferred the title of Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) under King Charles III reign, recognising his contributions “for services to United Kingdom (UK) and India business relations”.
The KBE is one of the highest honours conferred by the British Sovereign to civilians, granted to foreign nationals in recognition of their outstanding contributions.
Note: The honour recognises Bharti Enterprises’ work within the India-UK space, including with the UK government in the field of satellites.
Honorary Knighthood: - KBE is a distinguished recognition for pre-eminent contributions in any field of activity and is conferred in an honorary capacity to foreign nationals.
- While the Knighthood conferred on UK nationals gives them the titles “Sir” or “Dame.” The non-UK nationals awarded the honour add KBE (or Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) for women) after the recipient’s name.
About Sunil Bharti Mittal - In 1976, he founded Bharti Enterprises, which started its telecom services business by launching mobile services in Delhi in 1995.
- Bharti Airtel, the flagship company of Bharti Enterprises, has emerged as one of the top telecom companies in the world.
- He is the Co-Chairman of Eutelsat Group, a global leader in satellite communications.
- He also served as the Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Chairman of the Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) concurrently from 2016 to 2018. He was the 1st Indian to be elected as Chair of the GSMA.
- .He was the President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2007-08.
Awards/Honours: - In 2007, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan for Trade and Industry.
- He was also awarded the Harvard Business School’s Alumni Achievement Honour, the highest honour accorded by the institute to its alumni.
DRDO Conducts Successful Flight Test of VSHORADS Missile in Chandipur, Odisha
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the flight test of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile, a Man Portable Air Defence System(MANPADS) , off the coast of Odisha on 28th and 29th February 2024. The missile was tested from a ground-based portable launcher from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Balasore, Odisha.
About the Flight Test
- The VSHORADS missile was tested in several interception scenarios against the high-speed unmanned aerial targets.
- During the flight test, the missile achieved various mission objectives.
About VSHORADS Missile
VSHORADS was designed and developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in collaboration with other DRDO labs and Indian Industry Partners
Features: - The missile features various novel technologies, like a miniaturized Reaction Control System and integrated avionics, which were successfully proven during the test.
- The missile, designed for neutralising low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges, is propelled using a dualthrust solid motor.
About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
DRDO, formed in 1958, is the Research and Development (R&D) wing of the Ministry of Defence.
Chairman- Dr Samir Vankatpati Kamat
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
L&T Commissioned First Indigenously Manufactured Hydrogen Electrolyser at Gujarat
Mumbai (Maharashtra) headquartered Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited has commissioned its first indigenously built hydrogen electrolyser at the Green Hydrogen Plant in Hazira in Gujarat.
The electrolyser has a rated power capacity of 1 megawatt (MW), expandable to 2 MW. It can produce 200 Nm3/hour of hydrogen. It is a pressurized alkaline electrolyzer, equipped with two stacks and an indigenously manufactured Electrolyzer Processing Unit (EPU) ML400.
These alkaline electrolysers are manufactured by L&T Electrolysers
Limited, a newly incorporated entity of L&T using the technology from McPhy Energy, France.
L&T Electrolysers has been allocated 300 MW/annum capacity under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) of the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
Zero Discrimination Day 2024 – March 1
United Nations (UN)’s Zero Discrimination Day is annually observed across the globe on 1st March topromote equality, inclusion, peace, anddiversity while raising awareness about theharmful impact of discriminationworldwide.
- 1 March 2024 marks the observance of the 10th anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day.
- The 2024 theme of Zero Discrimination Day is, “To protect everyone’s health, protect everyone’s rights”.
- The symbol of Zero Discrimination Day is the “Butterfly”. It represents a symbol of transformation.
About Unaids
It was established by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and remained the only cosponsored joint program of the UN system.
Executive Director– Winnie Byanyima
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Started Operations– 1996
DPIIT & World Bank jointly organise National Workshop on Logistics Efficiency Enhancement
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoCI), has partnered with the World Bank to organise a National Workshop on Logistics Efficiency Enhancement in New Delhi, Delhi. The workshop brought together the logistics sector community to discuss and identify factors affecting logistics performance and areas of improvement.
About the workshop:
The national workshop was divided into 3 sessions: - Session 1: discussed the approach and methodology adopted in calculating the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) by the World Bank.
This ensured a better understanding of the methodologies for LPI calculation and its 6 parameters. - Session 2: discussed the corridor approach including Bharatmala and Sagarmala Corridors which enhances the logistics efficiency, brings down logistics costs, and increases first and last-mile connectivity.
- Session 3: Officials from various States shared their best practices, reforms, and digital initiatives undertaken to improve logistics efficiency.
- The workshop also discussed on databases like E-Way Bill, Fastag, etc. emerging from increased levels of digitisation to ease logistics operations in India
About World Bank:
The World Bank is an international development organization owned by 187 countries. President– Ajay Banga Headquarters– Washington, D.C., The United States of America(USA) Established in 1944
Anant Ambani launched ‘Vantara’ programme for Welfare of Animals
Anant Ambani, Director on the boards of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and Reliance Foundation, has launched an umbrella initiative called the ‘Vantara’ (Star of the Forests) programme to rescue, treat, care for, and rehabilitate injured, abused, and threatened animals, in India and abroad.
The initiative is the first of its kind in India and it aims to construct the world’s largest animal rescue and rehabilitation centre spanning about 3,000 acres within the Green Belt of Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Gujarat.
Vanatara also aims to protect critically endangered species native to India, restore vital habitats, and address urgent threats to species survival.
The initiative offers dedicated medical facilities and specialized animal kitchens
Russia Launches Iran’s ‘Pars 1’ Research Satellite into Space
Russia launched Pars 1, an Iranian research-sensing and imaging satellite by its Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome launch base of Russia (some 8,000 kilometers(km) east of Moscow) into an orbit 500 km above Earth.
Pars 1 will scan Iran’s topography and carry a 15- meter camera, enabling it to send high-resolution images of surface locations from its orbit.
Pars-1 marks the 12th satellite launched under the current administration of President Ebrahim Raisi, which took office in August 2021.
Note: The Russian rocket also carried a Russian weather satellite and 17 Russian small satellites.
Primary Mission Objectives: Pars-1 is designed to fulfill several critical missions, which includes,
- Practical imaging for diverse applications.
- Developing the market for domestic remote sensing data.
- Testing technologies for future operational satellites.
About Pars-1:
- The Pars-1 Satellite was indigenously developed by the Iranian Space Research Institute.It is designed for remote sensing and testing future satellite technologies.
- The Satellite, weighing 134 kilograms, is equipped with 3 cameras for capturing Earth images in visible, short-wave infrared (IR), and thermal IR ranges.
- The satellite can covers 95% of Iran’s territory in less than 100 days and the whole country in less than 45 days with night-vision capabilities.
Cutting-Edge Technology:
- The satellite utilizes a transmitter operating in the X-band telecommunication spectrum at a rate of Mbps,
- facilitating high-speed data transmission.
- The Pars 1 marks the inaugural use of the X-band link, a leap forward in enhancing data transmission speeds from satellite to Earth. Ground Station Efficiency: Equipped ground stations efficiently receive satellite images, optimising the functionality of the Pars 1 mission.
World Seagrass Day 2024 – March 1
The United Nations (UN)’s World Seagrass Day is annually observed across the globe on 1 March to raise awareness of the significance of seagrasses, emphasising their fundamental role in marine biodiversity, their threats, and their contributions to sustainable development and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
1 March 2024 marks the observance of the 2nd World Seagrass Day.
Seagrasses are marine flowering plants (angiosperms) that grow submerged in shallow marine waters.
Background - On 23 May 2022, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/76/265 and proclaimed the 1st March of every year as World Seagrass Day.
- .UNGA also invited the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to facilitate the observance of the Day.
- The first ever World
MSME Minister Narayan Rane Launched Three Initiatives to Promote Women Entrepreneurship
Union Minister Narayan Rane, Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) launched 3new Initiatives to promote women entrepreneurship in India during the 9th Annual Shakti InternationalWomen Entrepreneurs Summit held in New Delhi, Delhi.
The 3 new initiatives are,Panjikaran Se Pragati.Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)Unnati _ Udyamita se Pragati tak.Mentorship Platform.
About Panjikaran Se Pragati. - This national campaign is a joint initiative by the Ministry of MSME and the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP).
- .It encourages women entrepreneurs nationwide to register under Udyam and unlock vast opportunities..It encourages women entrepreneurs nationwide to register under Udyam and unlock vast opportunities.
About Mentorship Platform - An initiative fostering mentorship opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
About the Summit: - The “9th Shakti International Women Entrepreneurs Summit 2024” is an annual Conference, aligning with International Women’s Day (8 March 2024).
- .It was organised by the India SME Forum in collaboration with the Ministry of MSME, and the Women Entrepreneurs Forum.
- The summit aims to inspire and promote entrepreneurship among women and catalyses empowering women in entrepreneurship by providing a platform for knowledge exchange and inspiration
Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi Launches “Coal Logistics Plan and Policy”
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of Coal, launched the “Coal Logistics Plan and Policy” in an eventorganized by the Indian National Committee World Mining Congress(INC/WMC) with the patronage of theMinistry of Coal in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
Points to note: - The Coal Logistics Plan and Policy was developed with an approach to develop a technologically advanced, integrated, costeffective, resilient, sustainable and trusted logistics ecosystem for coal evacuation.
- .This will play a major role in the efforts of India towards modernizing coal transportation, enhancing efficiency, and promoting sustainability.
Note:The Ministry of Coal has undertaken various initiatives to produce 1.5 Billion tonnes (BT) of coal by 2030.
About Coal Logistics Plan and Policy: - The plan proposes a strategic shift towards a railway-based system in First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects. This will assist in reducing around 14% in rail logistic costs and an annual cost saving of Rs 21,000 crore.
- This will also minimize air pollution, reduce traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions by around 100,000 tonnes per annum.
- This is also expected to result in a 10% saving in the average turnaround time of wagons across India
Other Highlisghts: - During the event, a panel discussion on holistic approaches towards coal transportation was held under the chairmanship of M Nagaraju Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal.
- The discussion witnessed the participation of industry leaders like Anil Kumar Jha, Chairman of Jindal Power Limited (JPL); Subrat Tripathy, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Adani Ports, and others.
About Indian National Committee World Mining Congress(INC/WMC): INC-WMC is affiliated with World Mining Congres(WMC), an International Non-Government Organization(NGO) affiliated with the United Nations(UN). Chairman– Amrit Lal Meena(Secretary Coal) Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi.
Samudra Laksamana 2024: 3rd edition of India-Malaysia Maritime Exercise held in Visakhapatnam, AP
Exercise Samudra Laksamana 2024, the third edition of the India-Malaysia maritime exercise, was held at/off the coast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh(AP) from February 28, 2024 to March 2, 2024 between the Indian Navy (IN) and Royal Malaysian Navy.
Aim:
To enhance interoperability and relationships between Indian and Royal Malaysian Navies Participants:
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kiltan and the Royal Malaysian Ship KD Lekir
Key Points: - The exercise involves harbor professional interactions, such as sports fixtures and expert exchanges, to enhance knowledge, share best practices, and promote maritime cooperation.
- Crews engage in various professional interactions at the harbor to improve knowledge and cooperation.
- Sea phase focuses on joint skill development and diverse operations.
About INS Kiltan - .INS Kiltan, launched in March 2013, was handed over to the Indian Navy in 2017 by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE).
- .It is propelled by a Combination of Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) system, achieving speeds over 25 knots and a range of 3,500 nautical miles.
- With over 80% indigenous components, it features advanced Nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) warfare systems.
- It is the first major warship with entirely composite material superstructure.
- It is armed with heavy-weight torpedoes, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) rockets, a 76mm Medium Range gun, and Close-in-Weapon System (CIWS). It also carries an ASW-capable helicopter.
First-ever USA-India Cyber Security Initiative launched to strengthen IT Connections
United States of America (USA) Consulate and theMahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries andAgriculture (MCCIA) have launched the first-everUSA-India Cyber Security Initiative to strengthen
Information technology (IT) connections betweenthe two countries.
It also aims to bring together leading globalcybersecurity experts to create jobs and developinnovative solutions.
The initiative develops a mentorship model incyberspace and also encourages people-to-peopleties in cyberspace.
The initiative was launched at the MCCIA Pune Business International Business Summit which was held inPune, Maharashtra.
The launch event was attended by Mike Hankey, USA Consul General.
PM Modi & Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth jointly Inaugurate New Airstrip & a Jetty at Agaléga Island in Mauritius
Prime Minster (PM) of India, Narendra Modi and PM of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, jointly inaugurated an Airstrip and a Saint James Jetty at the Agaléga Island in Mauritius via video conferencing. They also inaugurated the six community development projects in Agaléga that were implemented with financial assistance from India.
Points to note - .These inaugurations will fulfil the demand for better connectivity between mainland Mauritius and Agalega, strengthen maritime security and foster socio-economic development.
- This will also expand India’s strategic outreach in the Southern Indian Ocean region (IOR).
- Jetty will facilitate operation of India’s Boeing P-8I maritime surveillance planes for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, bolstering India’s security role in IOR.
- Both nations cooperate in Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) monitoring, joint patrolling, and hydrography.
Additional info: - Inauguration of projects follows the launch of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) systems and RuPay card services in Mauritius.
- .PM Modi noted that Mauritius will be the 1st nation to join India’s Jan Aushadi Scheme for affordable medicines. This allows the sourcing of about 250 high-quality medicines from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India, and establishment of Jan Ayushadhi Kendras in Mauritius.
- .Over the past 10 years, India extends USD 1 billion credit line and USD 400 million assistance to Mauritius.
Khelo India University Games 2023: Chandigarh University Tops Medal Tally
Chandigarh University won the overall championship ofthe 4th edition of the Khelo India University Games(KIUG 2023) held in the North East region from 9th -29thFebruary 2024. Chandigarh University topped the medaltally of KIUG 2023 with a total of 71 medals (32 gold, 18silver, and 21 bronze).
Lovely Professional University (Punjab) with 42 medals(20 gold, 14 silver, and 8 bronze), and Guru Nanak DevUniversity, Amritsar (Punjab) with 51 medals (12 gold, 20silver, and 19 bronze) were ranked in 2nd and 3rd place,respectively.
The KIUG 2023 was held from 17th to 29th February 2024, in 07 States of North East namely, Assam,Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
The Mascot of the KIUG 2023 is ‘Ashtalakshmi’, a butterfly.
Swimmer Pratyasa Ray of Odisha’s Utkal University, who won 6 medals (four gold, one silver, and onebronze) was the most successful female athlete at KIUG 2023.
Swimmer Xavier Michael Dsouza of Karnataka’s Jain University, who won four gold medals was the mostsuccessful male athlete at KIUG 2023.
About the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS):
Union Minister– Anurag Singh Thakur (Constituency- Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS)– Nisith Pramanik (Constituency- Coochbehar, West Bengal)
World Wildlife Day 2024 – March 3
The United Nations (UN) World Wildlife Day (WWD) is annually observed across the globe on 3rd March to celebrate and raise awareness about world’s wild fauna (animals) and flora (plants). WWD serves as a global acknowledgment of the incredible diversity in our ecosystems.
The theme of WWD 2024 is “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation“.
Background:
- On 20 December 2013, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) at its 68th session, proclaimed 3 March of every year as UN World Wildlife Day.
- The UNGA resolution designated the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance.
- The 1st ever WWD was observed on 3 March 2014.
About Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):
Secretary-General- Ms Ivonne Higeuero
Headquarters– Genève, Switzerland
National Security Day 2024- March 4
National Security Day (NSD) or Rashtriya Suraksha Diwas is annually observed across India on 4 March to honour and show gratitude to the Indian Security Forces.
Security forces include the Police, Military, ParaMilitary, Guards, Commandos, and other forces who are involved in maintaining the peace and security of the people of India. About National Security Council (NSC):
NSA– Ajit Doval
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi