National
Gandhi Peace Prize 2021
⇒ The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021 has been conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur.
Key Points:
- The Jury headed by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, after due deliberations on 18th June, 2023 unanimously decided to select Gita Press, Gorakhpur as the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021.
- Gita Press has received this prize in recognition of it’s outstanding contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods.
- Gandhi Peace Prize 2021, recognizes the important and unparalleled contribution of Gita Press, in contributing to collective upliftment of humanity, which personifies Gandhian living in true sense.
About Gita Press:
- Established in 1923, Gita Press is one of the world’s largest publishers, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including 16.21 crore Shrimad Bhagvad Gita.
- The institution has never relied on advertisement in its publications, for revenue generation. Gita Press along with its affiliated organizations, strives for the betterment of life and the well-being of all.
About Gandhi Peace Prize:
- Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by Government of India in 1995, on the occasion of 125th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi.
- The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender.
- The award carries an amount of Rs 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item.
Past awardees:
» Recent awardees include Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Oman (2019) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (2020), Bangladesh.
The past awardees include organizations such as-
ISRO, Ramakrishna Mission, Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, Akshaya Patra, Bengaluru, Ekal Abhiyan Trust, India and Sulabh International, New Delhi
It has also been awarded to luminaries like-
Late Dr. Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, Dr. Julius Nyerere, Former President of Tanzania, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, Founder President of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Sri Lanka, Dr. Gerhard Fischer, Federal Republic of Germany, Baba Amte, Dr. John Hume, Ireland, Mr. Vaclav Havel, former President of Czechoslovakia, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt and Shri Yohei Sasakawa, Japan.
International
UNGA adopts Resolution to establish a new Memorial Wall for fallen Peacekeepers, piloted by India
⇒ UN General Assembly has adopted a Resolution to establish a new Memorial Wall for fallen Peacekeepers, piloted by India.
Key Points:
- India piloted the adoption of the Resolution in the UN General Assembly to establish a Memorial Wall for fallen Peacekeepers.
- The Resolution received a record 190 co-sponsorships, which is a testimony to faith in India’s contributions and intent.
- A draft resolution, ‘Memorial wall for fallen United Nations peacekeepers’, was introduced by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj in the UN General Assembly Hall on 16 June 2023. It was adopted by consensus.
Multinational Peacekeeping Joint Exercise “Ex Khaan Quest 2023”
⇒ Multinational Peacekeeping Joint Exercise “Ex Khaan Quest 2023” was commenced on 19 June 2023 in Mongolia.
- Military contingents and observers from more than 20 countries participated in the exercise.
Inauguration:
Mr Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, the Hon’ble President of Mongolia inaugurated the Exercise in a ceremony organised at the exercise location in Mongolia.
Co-sponsored by:
The exercise was co-sponsored by Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) and United States Army Pacific Command (USARPAC).
Indian contingent:
- The Indian Army was represented by a contingent from the GARHWAL RIFLES.
Key Points:
- The aim of the 14-day exercise was to enhance interoperability of the participating nations, for sharing experience and to train uniformed personnel for the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO).
- The exercise prepared participants for future UN Peacekeeping missions, developed peace operations capabilities and enhanced military readiness.
- The exercise included Command Post Exercise (CPX), Field Training Exercises (FTX), combat discussions, lectures and demonstration.
» The military exercise enhanced the level of defence co-operation between Indian Army and participating countries, especially with the Mongolian Armed Forces. This also enhanced bilateral relations between the two countries.
Sports
Special Olympics World Games 2023
⇒ The Special Olympics World Games 2023 took place from 17 – 25 June, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. It was the 16th edition of Special Olympics World Games.
- Berlin hosted the Special Olympics World Games 2023 for the first time.
Theme:
The theme of the Special Olympics World Games 2023 was “Unbeatable Together”.
» Thousands of athletes, coaches, families and fans descended upon the historic city as Special Olympics athletes competed against one another in 26 different sports.
Performance of India:
The Indian team comprised of 280 members. The Indian contingent is made up of 198 athletes and unified partners and 57 coaches who competed in 16 sports.
Medals won by Indian Athletes:
- India concluded their Special Olympics World Games in Berlin on a high, achieving a remarkable tally of 202 medals, including an impressive haul of 76 gold medals.
- India secured 76 gold, 75 silver and 51 bronze medals in the Special Olympics World Games 2023.
- The final set of gold medals were secured in athletics track. Indian athletes notched six medals from the track events (2 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze).