National
BIS launches ‘Learning Science via Standards’ Series
⇒ The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India has announced the launch of ‘Learning Science via Standards’, a unique initiative for students for learning science via standards.
Focus:
The ‘Learning Science via Standards’ initiative focuses on a series of lesson plans aimed to use scientific concepts, principles and laws to help students understand their practical applications in manufacturing, functioning and testing of quality characteristics of different products as stated in the relevant Indian Standards.
Key Points:
- The subjects for the lesson plans are largely related to products used in day-to-day life and have been chosen based on their relevance to education as part of the course curriculum as well as to industrial applications.
- BIS officials and resource personnel will transact the lesson plans to the students for an interactive learning experience. These lesson plans will also be hosted on the BIS website.
The ‘Learning Science via Standards’ initiative is expected to benefit a wide range of students, including those in schools, colleges, and technical institutions. It will also contribute towards their capacity building to engage successfully in a variety of economic sectors in the country.
Background:
- The ‘Learning Science via Standards’ series is in continuum with an earlier BIS initiative under which ‘Standards Clubs’ are being established in educational institutions across India.
- ‘Standards Clubs’ undertake student-centric activities like debates, quiz and competitions, including standards-writing competitions. BIS provides financial support to these Clubs for undertaking up to three activities in a year.
Entire Broad-Gauge Network in Uttarakhand gets Electrified
⇒ Indian Railway is working in a mission mode to become the largest Green Railway in the world and is moving towards becoming a “net zero carbon emitter” before 2030.
After completion of Electrification in Uttar Pradesh, Indian Railways has achieved another milestone. Indian Railways has completed the electrification of Uttarakhand.
- The existing Broad-Gauge network of Uttarakhand is 347 Route kilometre, which is 100% electrified, resulting in saving on account of reduced line haul cost (about 2.5 times lower).
- In addition, it leads to heavier haulage capacity, increased sectional capacity, reduced operating & maintenance cost of electric loco, energy efficient and eco-friendly mode of transportation with reduced dependence on imported crude oil, saving of foreign exchange.
Uttarakhand state’s territory falls in Northern & North Eastern Railway’s jurisdiction. Kathgodam station is an important station with annual passenger footfall of about 7 lacs and this terminating station acts as entry of Kumaun region of Uttrakhand. First train to this station reached on 24 April 1884.
International
Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with French Navy
⇒ Indian Navy’s indigenously built guided missile frigate, INS Sahyadri participated in a Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with French Navy (FN) ships FS Dixmude, a Mistral Class Amphibious Assault Ship and FS La Fayette, a La Fayette Class Frigate, in the Arabian Sea on 10 – 11 March 2023.
- The exercise witnessed a wide spectrum of evolutions at sea which included cross deck landings, boarding exercises and seamanship evolutions. The seamless conduct of the exercise reaffirmed the interoperability and high level of cooperation between the two navies.
- INS Sahyadri is fitted with state-of –the art weapons and sensors, which makes her capable of detecting and neutralising air, surface and sub-surface threats. The ship is a part of Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam, under operational control of FOCinC (East).
Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF)
⇒ Continuing with the conduct of Maritime Partnership Exercises (MPX) with Friendly Foreign Countries, INS Sahyadri exercised with Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ship JS Suzutsuki, an Akizuki Class Destroyer in the Arabian Sea on 11 March 2023.
- Aimed at consolidating their shared commitment to regional and global security challenges, the exercise witnessed cross deck landings by integral helicopters, tactical manoeuvres and a customary steam past by the ships.
- Indian Navy and JMSDF have been collaborating closely on various fronts and playing a key role in ensuring safety of international maritime trade and working towards global commons.
- The exercise underscored the strong navy-to-navy links and the high level of interoperability between the two nations in the maritime domain.
First Supreme Audit Institutions-20 (SAI20) Engagement Group Meeting
⇒ The 1st Supreme Audit Institutions-20 (SAI20) Engagement Group Meeting was held in Guwahati from March 13-15, 2023.
- The First Senior Officials Meeting of the SAI20 Engagement Group under India’s G20 Presidency began in Guwahati on March 13, 2023.
- Supreme Audit Institutions 20 (SAI20) is an Engagement Group introduced by the Indonesian Presidency in 2022. It is a forum to discuss the important role played by SAIs globally in ensuring transparency and accountability, and in promoting cooperation among the G20 members.
Chaired by:
Shri Girish Chandra Murmu, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, as the Chair of the Supreme Audit Institutions-20 (SAI20) Engagement Group, led the deliberations.
Participation:
The meeting saw the participation of 38 National and International delegates from G20 member SAIs, Guest SAIs and the World Bank as an invited organisation. The delegates from G20 member countries, guest countries and other International Organizations also attended the SAI20 event. SAIs of Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Oman, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and UAE participated in the meeting.
Objectives of SAI20:
- Promote collaboration among SAls in G20 countries and other stakeholders
- Strengthening oversight, developing insight, and providing strategic foresight to foster accountable economic governance
- Develop a platform for strengthening the SAIs’ role as a partner to G20 member countries in responding to global issues
Day-1: Opening Session
» In his opening address, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India highlighted that SAI20 Senior Officials Meeting 2023 is a symbol of global cooperation and collective efforts of the Supreme Audit Institutions of the member G20 countries, to ensure inclusive development and well-being of all.
While recognizing the importance of sustainability, growth and the role of emerging technologies, he informed that the SAI20, priority areas – “Blue Economy” and “Responsible Artificial Intelligence” represents the new-age opportunities and concerns, and these underline the need for genuine cooperation.
Priority areas:
- Blue Economy –
CAG stated that the Blue economy is an economic system that encompasses a spectrum of policy and operational dimensions aimed at conserving marine and freshwater environments while promoting their sustainable use, producing food and energy, supporting livelihoods, and acting as a driver for economic advancement and welfare.
- Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) –
CAG highlighted that democratization of AI technologies is inevitable, and AI could be used to benefit citizens and the country through targeted and timely intervention.
CAG also informed that SAI India’s International Centre for Environment Audit and Sustainable Development (ICED), which serves as global training facilities, has been established as a Centre of Excellence for the Blue Economy.
Day-2: Focus on the global promotion of Blue Economy
» Day-2 of the SAI20 meeting focused on the global promotion of the blue economy and its integration with SDGs.
» Senior Official meeting focused on the deliberations on the Zero draft of the SAI20 Communique. The delegates from the SAI20 member SAIs while broadly agreeing to the Zero draft of the Communique provided their valuable thoughts and suggestions to bring out an inclusive, decisive, and action-oriented Communique in the SAI20 summit scheduled in June 2023.
» Shri Girish Chandra Murmu in his valedictory address appreciated the wealth of knowledge gained during the deliberations on the priority areas of Blue Economy and Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI). He stressed the need for collaboration in developing and strengthening accountability frameworks in the two priority areas.