Indian Navy Declared Year 2024 as ‘Year of Naval Civilians’
The Indian Navy has declared 2024 as the ‘Year of Naval Civilians‘ with a focus on enhancing administration, efficiency, and the well-being of its civilian workforce.
This strategic initiative focuses on addressing key aspects of Civilian Human Resource (HR) Management within a defined timeframe.
Key Focus Areas for 2024:
The major focus areas identified for implementation in 2024 include maximising administrative efficiency; digital initiatives; generic and specific training programs; and welfare activities.
Naval Civilian Personnel:
- Naval civilian personnel, constituting about onethird of the Indian Navy’s workforce, play a pivotal role in operational effectiveness across diverse domains.
- The role of Civilian personnel impacts the overall performance of Indian Navy’s Command Headquarters, Dockyards, Material Organisations, Naval Armament Inspectorates, etc.
About Indian Navy:
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) – Admiral R Hari Kumar
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Motto– “Sam no Varunah”, meaning: “Be auspicious unto us Oh Varuna”.
MNRE Issues Guidelines for Pilot Projects for Utilizing Green Hydrogen in the Shipping & Steel Sector
On 1st February 2024, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) released the guidelines of the “Scheme of Pilot Projects on Use of Green Hydrogen in the Shipping Sector” under the National Green Hydrogen Mission(NGHM).
The total budget outlay for the implementation of the scheme till the financial year(FY) 2025-26 is Rs 115 crore.
On 2nd February 2024, MNRE released guidelines for the “scheme for pilot projects on the use of Green Hydrogen in the steel sector” under NGHM.The total budget outlay for the implementation of the scheme till the FY 2029-30 is Rs 455 crore.
Note: Under the NGHM, MNRE will undertake pilot projects in the shipping sector and steel sector to replace fossil fuels and fossil fuel-based feedstock with Green Hydrogen and its derivatives (like green ammonia, green methanol).
About the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE):
Union Minister– Raj Kumar Singh (Constituency- Arrah, Bihar)
Minister of State(MoS)– Bhagwanth Khuba (Constituency- Bidar, Karnataka)
MHA instituted Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak by Merging Four Medals
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has instituted a new medal named ‘Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak’ by merging four existing medalsUnion Home Minister’s Special Operation MedalUnion Home Minister’s Medal for Excellencein InvestigationAsadharan Assuchana Kushalata PadakUnion Home Minister’s Awards for Meritorious Service in Forensic Science
About Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak:
- The medal will only be awarded for the successful conduct of significant operations with a direct impact on the security of the State/union territory (UT), region, or country, in areas such as Counter-Terrorism, Border Action, Arms Control, Left Wing Extremism, Prevention of Narcotics Smuggling, and Rescue Operations.
- Personnel of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance (MoF) may also be considered for award under the area of “Prevention of Narcotics Smuggling”.
Chennai Metro Becomes the First Metro Service to join ONDC
Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) launched its ticketing services on Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) network and became India’s first metro rail service to join ONDC.
The passengers of Chennai Metro can purchase their journey tickets through buyer applications on the ONDC Network such as Rapido, Namma Yatri, and redBus.
Yaary became the first seller-side technology partner for CMRL.
India’s UPI was Launched at Eiffel Tower in Paris, France
The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was formally launched at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. For this purpose, NPCI International Payments (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), partnered with Lyra Network, a French e-commerce and proximity payment platform, to facilitate the acceptance of UPI payments in Europe.
Indian tourists can use UPI to purchase their tickets to visit the Eiffel TowerThe announcement was made in the 75th Republic Day Reception Event organised in Embassay of India, Paris by M Jawed Ashraf, the Ambassador of India to France and Monaco.
About ESAF SFB & Edelweiss Tokio Life partners to offer Life Insurance Products
Thrissur (Kerala) based ESAF Small Finance Bank(SFB) announced a bancassurance partnership with Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance Company Limited to offer life insurance products to a wider range of customers, particularly those in underserved communities.
By leveraging ESAF’s strong presence in rural areas, the partnership aims to make life insurance more accessible to people who might not have considered it before.
Modi Enterprises Chairperson Bina Modi honoured as ‘Outstanding Business Woman of the Year 2023’
Union Minister, Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence(MoD) honoured Dr Bina Modi, Chairperson of Modi Enterprises, KK Modi Group, with the “Outstanding Business Woman of the Year – 2023′ Award. Theaward recognised her contributions to the industry.
The award was presented during the IndoAmerican Chamber of Commerce (IACC) conference held in New Delhi, Delhi.
About Dr Bina Modi:
- Dr Bina Modi is also the President and Managing Director(MD) of Godfrey Phillips India and Chairman and MD of Indofil Industries Limited (agro-chemical manufacturer).
- Some of the brands that she created include Bina Fashions, Ego Thai, Ego Italian, and luxury and lifestyle businesses.
- AwardDr. Bina Modi has been awarded the “Women of the Decade in Business & Leadership 2018” by Women Economic ForumShe has also featured on India’s Most Powerful Women, a book by Prem Ahluwalia (2016).Note: Modi enterprise oversees around 12 brands.
IACC Conference:
- The IACC conference on “Strengthening Indo-US Relationship in Amritkal-Aatmanirbhar Bharat”witnessed the participation of the Ambassador of the United States of America (USA) to India Eric Garcetti and representatives of IACC.
- The conference was chaired by Dr. Lalit Bhasin, former National President of IACC & Managing Partner, Bhasin & Co., Advocates.
About Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC):
It is the apex bi-lateral Chamber synergizing India-US Economic Engagement.
National President– Pankaj Bohra
Established in 1968
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Champai Soren sworn in as CM of Jharkhand; Hemant Soren Resigned
Champai Soren (67), leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) party, was sworn in as the ChiefMinister (CM) of Jharkhand.
Jharkhand Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office and secrecy at the Raj Bhavan complex in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
Champai Soren succeeded Hemant Soren (JMM party), who resigned from the post on 31st January 2024.
Note: Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a land fraud case. He became the first sitting CM of Jharkhand to be arrested in a corruption case.
Key Points:
- Champai Soren is a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Seraikella Constituency of Jharkhand.
- Before the appointment as CM, he was serving as the Minister of Transport, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Welfare of Jharkhand
- Other Appointments: Alamgir Alan (Indian National Congress-INC) and Satyanand Bhogta(Rashtriya Janata Dal- RJD) also took oath as ministers.
About Champai Soren:
- Champai Soren, popularly known as “Jharkhand’s Tiger”, is one of the founding members of the JMM party.
- He was first elected as MLA from Saraikela constituency in 1991
- He served as a cabinet minister in the government led by Arjun Munda from 2010 to 2013.
- He has also served as Jharkhand’s Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Transport from 2013-14 under the leadership of Hemant Soren.
About Jharkhand:
Chief Minister – Champai Soren
Governor – C. P. Radhakrishnan
National Park – Betla National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary – Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Lawalong Wildlife Sanctuary
US State Dept Approves USD 4 billion sale of 31 MQ-9B Armed Drones and Equipments to India
United States(US) Department of State has approved the sale of 31 MQ-9B Armed Drones and other related equipments to India. The estimated cost of the deal is around USD 3.99 billion (Rs 33060 crore).
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency of the United States of America(USA) issued the required certifications.
Key Points:
- The acquisition of MQ-9B will help the US-India Strategic relationship and support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the USA.
- This will also improve the capabilities of India to address the threats by enabling unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols in sea lanes of operation.
- These 31 drones will be utilised by the Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force.
The Indian Navy will get 15 SeaGuardian drones and the Army and the Air Force will get eight each of the land version of the drones – SkyGuardian.
About the United States of America(USA):
President– Joseph Robinette Biden Jr (Joe Biden)
Capital– Washington, D.C.
Currency– United States dollar(USD)