National
PM inaugurates, dedicates to the nation and lays foundation stone for projects in Mehsana
⇒ Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone for projects worth around Rs 5800 crores in Mehsana, Gujarat on 30 October 2023.
- The projects include multiple sectors such as rail, road, drinking water and irrigation.
Background:
The projects that were inaugurated and dedicated to the nation include the New Bhandu-New Sanand(N) section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC); doubling of the Viramgam – Samakhiali rail line; Katosan Road- Bechraji – Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL Siding) Rail Project; project for recharge of various village lakes of Vijapur taluka and Mansa taluka of Mehsana and Gandhinagar district; Valasana barrage on Sabarmati river in Mehsana District; two schemes for provisioning of drinking water in Palanpur, Banaskantha; and the Dharoi dam based Palanpur lifeline project – Head work (HW) and water treatment plant of 80 MLD capacity.
The projects whose foundation stones were laid by the Prime Minister included various development projects in Kheralu; the project for providing irrigation facilities in Santrampur taluka of Mahisagar District; widening and strengthening of Naroda – Dehgam – Harsol – Dhansura Road, Sabarkantha; project for Kalol Nagarpalika Sewerage and Septage Management in Gandhinagar District; and projects for sewage treatment plants in Siddhpur (Patan), Palanpur (Banaskantha), Bayad (Aravalli) and Vadnagar (Mehsana).
Cdr Abhilash Tomy (retd) felicitated by Chief of the Naval Staff
⇒ Cdr Abhilash Tomy (retd), the first Indian to successfully finish the Golden Globe Race (GGR) 2022, was felicitated by Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, on 30 October 2023 at Goa in recognition of his historical achievement.
Key Points:
- It was on 29th April 2023 that Cdr Tomy made history by finishing second in GGR 22, also becoming the first Asian to finish the race.
- He sailed for 236 days 14 hours and 46 minutes since his cast off on 04 September 2022, to return to Les Sables-d’Olonne, France behind Kirsten Neuschafer of South Africa.
- 16 entrants were to participate in GGR 22 and undertake the circumnavigation race with equipment and technology pre-dating 1968.
- Only three participants including Cdr Tomy could finally finish the race, the balance retiring midway owing to technical failures or accidents.
» Prior to this, in 2013, Cdr Tomy became the first Indian to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world under sail onboard INSV Mhadei.
About GGR:
GGR is conducted in honour of Sir Robin Knox Johnston, the first sailor ever to complete the solo non-stop circumnavigation race in 1968.
Launch of DSC A21 (Yard 326) Second Ship of 05 x Diving Support Craft (DSC) Project
⇒ The launch of ‘DSC A 21’, the second ship of 05 x Diving Support Craft (DSC) project, was undertaken on 30 October 2023 at Titagarh, Kolkata (WB) onto Hooghly River.
- The ‘DSC A 21’, the second ship of 05 x Diving Support Craft (DSC) project is being built by M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL), Kolkata for Indian Navy.
- The Launch Ceremony was presided over by VAdm K Swaminathan, Chief of Personnel. In keeping with the Naval maritime tradition, Mrs Laila Swaminathan launched the ship.
About Ship:
- These ships are designed to undertake diving operations at harbours and coastal waters and are being fitted with state-of-the-art diving equipment.
- They are 30 m long catamaran hull ships, with a displacement of approx 300 tons.
- The contract for building 05 x Diving Support Craft (DSC) was signed between MoD and M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL), Kolkata on 12 February 2021.
- These ships are indigenously designed and built under relevant Naval Rules and Regulation of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
- The hydrodynamic analysis/ model testing of the ships during design stage were undertaken at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam.
- These ships are proud flag bearers of ‘Make in India’ initiative of Government of India (GoI)/ Ministry of the Defence (MoD).
International
1st Global Conference on Cooperation in Enforcement Matters (GCCEM) 2023
⇒ Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presided over as Chief Guest at the inaugural session of the first ever three-day-long Global Conference on Cooperation in Enforcement Matters (GCCEM) in New Delhi, on 30 October 2023.
- During the event, the Union Finance Minister also launched phase IV of ‘Operation Sesha’ by Indian Customs in collaboration with RILO Asia-Pacific and RILO Middle-East to curb the illegal trade of Timber including Red Sanders.
- Sitharaman stressed on curbing of illicit trade of red sanders with emphasis on preserving other precious flora and fauna.
- The Union Finance Minister concluded by stating that international agencies should also cooperate in bringing back the antiques to their respective countries.
About first Global Conference on Cooperation in Enforcement Matters (GCCEM):
» The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) under Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), in consultation with World Customs Organisation (WCO), Brussels, hosted the global conference from 30th October to 1st November 2023.
Theme:
The theme of the Global Conference was “It takes a Network to fight a Network”.
Aim:
The aim of the international conference was to facilitate sharing of insights, best practices and to serve as a catalyst for enhancing collaboration with Indian Customs’ partner Administrations and for building new partnerships.
- The WCO has collaborated with Indian Customs to ensure wide participation by Member Administrations and international organisations, including WCO’s Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILOs) and senior representations from the WCO Secretariat.
Participation:
- More than 75 delegates representing over 40 Custom Administrations / Organisations, including the Secretary General-WCO, Secretary General-CITES and other international agencies participated in the inaugural GCCEM.
- In addition, representatives of various Law Enforcement Agencies of India also participated in the three-day conference on various sessions in the field of anti- smuggling and commercial frauds.
Background:
The genesis of the GCCEM lay in the suggestion made by the Union Finance Minister at her last year’s address at the Inaugural function of DRI Foundation Day in 2022, emphasising on the importance of greater cooperation and collaboration among international enforcement agencies for timely intelligence sharing and directed that in the year of India’s G20 Presidency, CBIC and DRI must hold an international conference towards this end.
Important Day
Vigilance Awareness Week 2023
⇒ Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) observes Vigilance Awareness Week during the week in which 31st October, the birthday of late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel falls.
- Central Vigilance Commission observed the Vigilance Awareness Week 2023 from 30th October to 5th November, 2023.
Theme:
The theme of Vigilance Awareness Week 2023 was “Say no to corruption; commit to the Nation/ भ्रष्टाचार का विरोध करें; राष्ट्र के प्रति समर्पित रहें”.
As a prelude to Vigilance Awareness Week 2023, the Commission had earlier issued instructions detailing a three-month campaign period (16th August – 15th November 2023).
During which the following Preventive Vigilance measures were to be taken up as focus areas by all the Ministries/Departments/ Organisations:
- Awareness building about Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers (PIDPI) Resolution
- Capacity Building programs
- Identification and implementation of Systemic Improvement measures,
- Leveraging of IT for complaint disposal
- Updation of Circulars / Guidelines / Manuals
- Disposal of complaints received before 30 June 2023