One Nation, One Election Website Launched during HLC’s second meeting
- High-Level Committee (HLC) on One Nation, One Election(ONOE) under the chairmanship of Former President Ram Nath Kovind held its 2nd meeting in New Delhi, Delhi on 25th October 2023.
- The website developed for the “One Nation, One Election” was launched at the meeting. This will act as a repository of all relevant information on the ONOE proposal.
- The website will also act as a platform for interaction and receiving suggestions from all stakeholders.
What is One Nation, One Election?
The One Nation, One Election is a proposal to hold simultaneous elections to the Lower House of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and State Assemblies.
CCI Secured its 1st Membership in the International Competition Network’s Steering Group for 2 Years
Competition Commission of India (CCI) secures membership in the International Competition Network(ICN) Steering Group at the 22nd Annual Conference of the ICN, hosted by the Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) in Barcelona, Spain from 18 to 20 October 2023.This is the 1st time that CCI has become a member of the ICN’s apex body, a Steering Group and the membership is for 2 years.With more than 140 member competition agencies, ICN operates under the guidance of its Steering Group, comprised of 18 esteemed members worldwide.
Key Points:
- ICN functions as a virtual international organization, comprising global competition authorities.
- ICN’s work primarily occurs through project-oriented Working Groups, fostering collaboration through various mediums such as teleconferences, teleseminars, and webinars.
- Through dynamic dialogue, the ICN platform facilitates the convergence towards robust competition policy principles across the global antitrust community.
About International Competition Network (ICN):
Founded in– 2001
Chair of ICN Steering Group– Andreas Mundt (President, Germany Federal Cartel Office)
Member Agencies– 143 Members
ADB Approves USD 400 Million Loan to Enhance Urban Services in India
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved USD 400 million policy-based loan to India to enhance the infrastructure quality and provide assured public services and efficient governance systems. The loan will be under Sub-programme 2 of ADB’s Sustainable Urban Development and Service Delivery Programme.Subprogram 2 will support investment planning and reform actions at the state and urban local body (ULB)levels.It will be implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs(MoH&UA) with guidance from ADB.
Key Points:
- India cities have the potential to drive economic growth.
- India has stressed the importance of making cities livable through inclusive, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure. This is in alignment with ADB Strategy 2030.
- Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0, India’s flagship urban transformation program, aims to provide universal access to water supply and sanitation, and ensure urban water security by reducing water losses, recycling wastewater for non-potable uses, rejuvenating water bodies, and maintaining sustainable groundwater levels.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB):
President – Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters – Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
Established in – 1966
Members – 68 Countries
Special Forces Training School at HP Gets Indian Army’s 1st Vertical Wind Tunnel
General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), virtually inaugurated the Indian Army’s 1st Vertical Wind Tunnel (VWT) at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS) at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh (HP) to train the special forces and refine the Combat Freefall (CFF) skills of armed forcespersonnel.The state-of-the-art wind tunnel provides a controlled environment for military trainees. It enhances the Combat Free Fall (CFF) skills of armed forces personnel.The facility simulates real-life free-fall conditions, allowing trainees to experience various CFF scenarios.
Key Points:
- A Vertical Wind Tunnel (VWT) is a wind tunnel that moves air up in a vertical column. These tunnels are often used for aerodynamic research and modern human flight
- Wind tunnels that are built specifically for humans to fly in are often referred to as skydiving simulators, indoor skydiving tunnels, or simply wind tunnels
- These tunnels employ powerful fans to generate wind speeds, allowing participants to float effortlessly, mimicking the sensation of a skydive.
- Beyond recreation, VWT serves as a training ground for skydivers, enabling them to practice maneuvers in a controlled environment.
- Generating specific air columns at defined velocities, the VWT replicates diverse Controlled Free Fall (CFF) scenarios
China Launches Shenzhou-17 Manned Spacecraft to Its Space Station
China’s Chinese Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has launched its 30th flight mission Shenzhou 17 (alsoknown as “Divine Vessel”) along with three astronauts to the Tiangong Space Station.The spacecraft lifted off atop a Long March-2F Y17 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.This is the sixth manned mission of China to its space station since 2021
Key Points:
- Shenzhou 16 was the fifth manned mission to China’s Tiangong space station.
- The crew consisted of Jing Haipeng (commander), Zhu Yangzhu, and Gui Haichao.
- It launched on May 30, 2023, and will return to Earth on October 31, 2023
- The Tiangong space station is a Chinese space station being built in low Earth orbit between 340 and 450 kilometers above the earth
- In 2021, Shenzhou 12 was the first crew to visit the space station.
- Chinese will be the working language of this space station.
About People’s Republic of China:
President – Xi Jinping
Capital – Beijing
Currency – Renminbi (Yuan)
Skyroot Aerospace Unveils Vikram-I Orbital Space Launch Vehicle
- Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited unveiled ‘Vikram-I’ orbital space launch vehicle at the newlyinaugurated its headquarters ‘The MAX-Q Campus’ located at the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park in South Hyderabad, Telangana
- The event was attend by Union Minister of State(MoS) Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST) who also unveiled simulation of Vikram 1.
- The Vikram-I rocket is capable of carrying a load of up to 480 Kilograms (kg) into 500 Kilometre (km) the Low Earth orbit (LEO) and a load of 290 kg into a 500 km Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO).
- Vikram 1 is the all-carbon-fibre bodied rocket that can place multiple satellites in orbit and features 3D printed liquid engines.