National
Chief Minister of Tripura
⇒ Dr Manik Saha took the oath as the Chief Minister of Tripura on 08 March 2023 for the second consecutive term in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The swearing-in ceremony was held at Vivekananda Maidan in Agartala.
Governor Satyadeo Narayan Arya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Saha and eight more MLAs as Ministers.
- Others who took the oath included Ratan Lal Nath, Pranjit Singha Roy, Santana Chakma, Sushanta Chowdhury, Tinku Roy, Bikas Debbarma, Sudhangshu Das and Shukla Charan Noatia.
In the Assembly election, the BJP won 32 seats out of 60 with a vote share of around 39%. The tribal-based Tipra Motha Party (TMP) emerged as the second-largest party securing 13 seats. The CPI(M) won 11 seats while the Congress bagged three.
About Dr Saha:
- Dr Saha completed a Bachelor of Dental Studies programme from Government Dental College in Patna and later pursued Master of Dental Surgery in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from King Georges’ Medical College in Lucknow.
- He was honoured with a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to dental surgery by the Indian Dental Association and Tripura government.
International
Exercise Cobra Warrior 2023
⇒ On 23 February 2023, an Indian Air Force contingent comprising of 145 Air Warriors departed from Air Force Station Jamnagar to participate in Exercise Cobra Warrior at Waddington Air Force Base of the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom.
- The Indian Air Force participated in the exercise this year with five Mirage 2000 fighter, two C-17 Globemaster III and an IL-78 mid-air refueller aircraft.
» The Exercise Cobra Warrior was conducted from 06 March to 24 March 2023.
- Exercise Cobra Warrior is a multilateral air exercise in which air forces from Finland, Sweden, South Africa, United States of America and Singapore along with Royal Air Force and IAF also participated.
- The aim of the exercise was to participate in diverse fighter aircraft engagements and learn from the best practices of various Air Forces.
- This edition of Exercise Cobra Warrior, also known as CW 2023-1.
About Exercise Cobra Warrior:
- Exercise Cobra Warrior is conducted twice a year and is the largest aerial exercise run by the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom.
- The exercise is designed to train participants in high intensity, large force, tactical air warfighting operations.
Important Day
5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023
⇒ Department of Pharmaceuticals celebrated 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas on 7th March 2023.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in collaboration with Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the implementing agency of PMBJP and States and Union Territories celebrated 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023 under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
Theme:
The 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas was celebrated across the country with the theme “जन औषधि – सस्ती भी अच्छी भी”.
Seminars, Programs for children, women and NGO’s, Heritage walks, Health camps and many other activities engaging PMBJKs owners, Beneficiaries, State/UT officials, Public Representatives, Doctors, Health Workers, Nurses, Pharmacists and Jan Aushadhi Mitra’s were organised.
» Events were planned in different cities from 1st to 7th March 2023, which focused on awareness about the Jan Aushadhi Scheme.
Name of the programme with Date:
01 March- Jan Aushadhi Jan Chetna Abhiyan
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Dr Mansukh Mandaviya flagged off the Jan Aushadhi Rath to commence celebrations of Jan Aushadhi Jan Chetna Abhiyaan in New Delhi on 01 March 2023.
02 March- Jan Aushadhi Pratigya Yatra
More than 34 Pratigya Yatras were conducted across country. Many such Pad Yatras carried out with the message of quality and affordable medicines.
03 March- Jan Aushadhi – Ek KadamMatri Shakti ki Ore
The third day of Jan Aushadhi Diwas, 2023 was observes as ‘Jan Aushadhi – Ek Kadam Matri Shakti Ki Ore’ across the country.
- On the 3rd day, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, and Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology were flagged off a Jan Aushadhi Train (Chhattisgarh Samparkranti Express) New Delhi.
- This train was wrapped with branding of Jan Aushadhi scheme to spread the awareness about Jan Aushadhi Generic medicines which are available through more than 9000 Kendra at affordable prices. This train traveled to more than 4 States for 2 months.
- Also, the similar train from Pune to Danapur was flagged off covering 4 States for 2 months for generating awareness amongst the general public about Jan Aushadhi scheme.
04 March- Jan Aushadhi Bal Mitra
The fourth day of Jan Aushadhi Diwas, 2023 was celebrated as ‘Bal Mitra Diwas’. The 4th day’s events of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) were dedicated to children. Through the quiz, children were made aware of the Jan Aushadhi scheme and its benefits.
05 March- Jan Arogya Mela (Health Camp)
‘Jan Aushadhi -Jan Arogya Melas’ (Health Camps) and Heritage Walks (Health Walk Virasat ke Saath) were organised all over the country on the fifth day of Jan Aushadhi Diwas, 2023.
- In the Health camps, Jan Aushadhi medicines were also distributed free of cost along with free consultations by doctors.
- Similarly, Heritage Walks (Health Walk Virasat ke Saath) were also organised on a pan India level at 10 major historical locations of the country to disseminate knowledge about Jan Aushadhi to the general people. The theme of the Heritage Walks was “Jan Aushadhi Viraasat ke Saath, Health Heritage Walk”.
06 March- Aao Jan Aushadhi Mitra Banein
The sixth day of Jan Aushadhi Diwas, 2023 was celebrated as “Aao Jan Aushadhi Mitra Banein”. On this occasion, large number of people took pledge ‘Jan Aushadhi Shapath’ digitally on the MyGov platform to promote the use of generic medicines. Pan India seminars and workshops were conducted on a national level by inviting students at Pharma college and universities.
07 March- Celebration of 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas at State/UT level
Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav addressed the Jan Aushdhi Diwas 2023 program organized in Dwarka, Delhi.
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Health & Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launched NaMo Free Dialysis Centre and 100th Janaushadhi Kendra at Bengaluru South on occasion of 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas. The Minister was also inaugurated NaMo Day Care Center and Flagged off 4 NaMo Mobile Healthcare Units.
About Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP):
- With an objective of making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India in November, 2008.
- As on 31st January, 2023, the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) has increased to 9082. Under the PMBJP, 743 districts out of 764 districts of the nation have been covered.
- This scheme ensures easy reach of affordable medicine to the people in every nook and corner of the country. The Government has set a target to increase the number of PMBJKs to 10000 by the end of December 2023.
- Product basket of PMBJP comprises 1759 drugs and 280 surgical instruments. Further, new medicines and nutraceuticals products like protein powder, malt-based food supplements, protein bar, immunity bar, sanitizer, masks, glucometer, oximeter, etc. have been also launched.
- Medicines available under PMBJP are priced 50%-90% less than that of branded prices.
Death
Noted film personality Shri Satish Kaushik
⇒ Noted film personality Shri Satish Kaushik passed away on 09 March 2023 in Gurugram. He was 66.
- Satish Chandra Kaushik was an Indian actor, director, producer, comedian, and screenwriter.
- He is best remembered for his roles as “Calendar” in Mr. India, as Pappu Pager in Deewana Mastana, and as “Chanu Ahmed” in Sarah Gavron’s British Film Brick Lane (2007).
- He won the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian twice in 1990 for Ram Lakhan and in 1997 for Saajan Chale Sasural.