National
PM inaugurates and lays foundation stone for development projects in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth more than Rs 1150 crores in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep on 03 January 2023.
Development projects cover a wide range of sectors including technology, energy, water resources, healthcare and education. The Prime Minister handed out laptops to students under the Laptop Scheme and gave away bicycles to school students under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. He also handed out PM Kisan Credit Cards to farmer and fishermen beneficiaries.
The development projects are:
» In a transformative move, the Prime Minister had resolved to overcome the challenge of slow internet speed in Lakshadweep by initiating the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection (KLI – SOFC) project which was announced during the Independence Day speech at Red Fort in 2020.
- The project has now been completed and was inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
- This will increase internet speed by more than 100 times (from 1.7 Gbps to 200 Gbps).
- For the first time since independence, Lakshadweep will be connected through Submarine Optic Fibre Cable.
- The dedicated submarine OFC will ensure a paradigm shift in communication infrastructure in the Lakshadweep islands, enabling faster and more reliable internet services, telemedicine, e-governance, educational initiatives, digital banking, digital currency usage, digital literacy etc.
» The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plant at Kadmat.
- This will produce 1.5 lakh litres of clean drinking water every day.
» The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation, the Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) in all households of Agatti and Minicoy islands.
- The availability of potable water was always a challenge in the islands of Lakshadweep as being a coral island, it has minimal ground water availability.
- These drinking projects will also help in strengthening the tourism capacity of the islands, leading to increased local employment opportunities.
» Other projects which are dedicated to the nation include the solar power plant at Kavaratti, which is the first-ever battery-backed solar power project of Lakshadweep.
- It will help to reduce dependency on the Diesel-based Power Generation plant, the new administrative block and 80 Men barrack in India Reserve Battalion (IRBn) Complex at Kavaratti.
» The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the renovation of the Primary Health Care facility in Kalpeni and the construction of five model Anganwadi Centres (Nand Ghars) in the five islands of Androth, Chetlat, Kadmat, Agatti and Minicoy.
2024 named 'Year of Human Resource Development and Discipline' to mark IREDA's future roadmap
⇒ On the occasion of New Year 2024, CMD IREDA Shri Pradip Kumar Das has announced that the year 2024 will be christened as ‘Year of Human Resource Development and Discipline’ to mark IREDA’s future roadmap into new strategic sectors and geographies.
The CMD extended his best wishes to IREDA employees and congratulated them for their contributions to IREDA’s remarkable achievements. His words celebrated the collective efforts that have brought IREDA to new heights, setting the tone for a year filled with continued success and achievements.
International
2nd India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise CYCLONE - 2023
⇒ The 2nd edition of India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise CYCLONE was conducted at Anshas, Egypt from 22nd January to 1st February 2024.
- The first edition of the exercise was conducted in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India last year.
Participation:
- The Indian Army contingent comprised of 25 personnel and was represented by troops from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces).
- The Egyptian contingent comprised of 25 personnel and was represented by Egyptian Commando Squadron and Egyptian Airborne Platoon.
Aim:
- Aim of the Exercise was to acquaint both the sides with each other’s operating procedures in the backdrop of Special Operations in desert/ semi desert terrain under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter.
- Exercise CYCLONE was designed to develop bilateral military cooperation and strengthen bond between two armies through conduct of discussions and rehearsal of tactical military drills.
» The Exercise involved planning and execution of special operations in sub conventional domain and was conducted in three phases.
- While the first phase included Military Exhibitions and Tactical Interactions, second phase focused on training on Improvised Explosive Device (IED), counter IED and Combat First Aid.
- The third and final phase encompassed Joint Tactical Exercise based on Fighting in Built-up Area and Hostage Rescue Scenarios.
The Exercise provided an opportunity to both the contingents to strengthen their bond and share best practices. It also served as a platform to achieve shared security objectives and foster bilateral relations between two friendly nations.