National
Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023
⇒ Parliament passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, during the 12th session of the 17th Lok Sabha and 260th session (Monsoon Session) of the Rajya Sabha.
- The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991.
- The Bill became an Act after the assent of the President on August 11, 2023, and is called the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023.
Key Points:
- The Bill empowers the Central Government to make rules in connection with the affairs of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi including the functions, terms and other conditions of service of officers and employees. It also has a provision of the constitution of the National Capital Civil Service Authority.
- The authority consists of the Delhi Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary of Delhi, and the Principal Home Secretary of Delhi. The Authority will make recommendations to Delhi Lieutenant Governor regarding transfers and postings of officials and disciplinary matters.
Port Health Organisation (PHO) module under Sagar Setu - National Logistics Portal (Marine)
⇒ The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched Port Health Organisation (PHO) module under Sagar Setu – National Logistics Portal (Marine) – in an attempt to enable faster and simpler ecosystem to promote Ease of Doing Business (EODB).
- PHO will conduct disease surveillance, health inspection and quarantine measures to safeguard citizens and port workers.
PHO module:
- This Port Health Organization module has been envisaged as a part of ‘Ease of Doing busine’ by covering features like request for PHO clearance certificates, approval by PHO, online certification generation, tracking of request status etc.
- The PHO module will help the Shipping Agents, PHO’s, Port Authorities, Customs etc allowing easier access to functionalities of PHO clearance through online process.
- This will help in collaborating with different departments & agencies for accordance of approval etc. It will also ensure data mobility such that approvals and monitoring shall be paperless transparency.
- With a focus on public health, the Port Health Organization will conduct disease surveillance, health inspections, and quarantine measures to safeguard citizens and port workers.
- For Custodians like Ports Authorities and Customs, this module will help in providing Seamless Communication.
- PHO module of Sagar Setu (NLP-M) will boost maritime trade by enhancing ease of doing business and implementing digitisation process in Maritime process.
Sagar Setu (National Logistic Portal – Marine) would help the Shipping Agents to submit the request for Free Pratique and Health Declaration Certificates to PHOs at Port through online for the vessel arriving and leaving the Ports.
- Approvals and issuance of certificates by PHOs can also be made through the PHO module and notifications to Port Officials.
‘SAGAR-SETU’ App:
Earlier, the ‘SAGAR-SETU’, the mobile app version of NLP-Marine, was launched in April, 2023.
- This app gives real-time information on vessel-related details, gate information, container freight stations, and transactions.
- The app also facilitates digital payments for charges associated with import and export clearance processes, such as shipping line charges, transportation fees, and container freight station charges.
Study in India Portal
⇒ In line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of re-establishing India as a global hub of education, Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar jointly launched Study in India Portal in New Delhi on 03 August 2023.
On the occasion, students from Russia, Thailand, Japan, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Kazakhstan and Republic of Korea who are currently studying in India, presented souvenirs from their culture as token of respect to dignitaries.
About Portal:
- Study in India Portal is a dedicated website that will provide comprehensive information about the Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
- The website will illustrate academic programs covering but not limited to undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), Doctoral level programs as well as courses in Indian Knowledge System like Yoga, Ayurveda, classical arts etc.
- The website-portal will present information about the academic facilities, research support, and related information.
- The new website will now have the provision for students to apply in more than one institute/course of their choice.
- The new portal will provide an integrated one-stop solution for student registration and visa application process.
Key Features:
Partnership with Premier Education Institutes: The Study in India programme involves partnership with educational institutes fulfilling one of the following criteria:
- National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF)ranking (<=100)
- National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation score (>=3.01)
- Institutes of National Importance (INI)
Other Points:
- This ensures premier institutions being the partner to enrolling international students coming to study in India.
- The Study in India programme offers a streamlined and well-organized application process for international students seeking higher education opportunities in Indian Higher Education Institutes.
- From registration to visa approval, the online platform simplifies the entire journey, enabling students to choose their desired courses, receive institute offer letters, and successfully pursue their academic dreams in India.
- By providing a seamless experience, the SII programme continues to attract talented and ambitious students from around the world to study in India’s vibrant and culturally diverse academic environment.
Study in India programme:
- Study in India is a flagship program of the Government of India, under the aegis of the Ministry of Education (MoE).
- The Study in India programme aims to increase the number of international students in India. The program also envisions promoting India as the preferred study destination, providing affordable and quality education comparable with global standards thereby contributing to improving the overall quality improvement in higher education.
- India being one of the largest higher education systems in the world, our universities offer a diverse range of courses catering to the evolving needs of the global workforce.
- The Study in India programme seeks to facilitate international students’ access to these courses and showcase the country’s academic excellence.
Important Day
World Organ Donation Day 2023
⇒ World Organ Donation Day is observed every year on 13 August.
- The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation and transplantation and bust myths around it.
Theme:
The theme for World Organ Donation Day 2023 was “Step up to volunteer; we need more organ donors to fill the lacunae”.
- The theme focuses on a global call to the local public to emphasize the importance of pledging for organ donation, thereby decreasing the volumes raised for the need for an organ.
History:
World Organ Donation Day was first observed in 2005. It was first celebrated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Society for Organ Donation (ISOD).
First Organ Donor:
- The first organ donation was performed in 1954, when Ronald Lee Herrick donated his kidney to his twin brother.
- According to various reports, the first organ donor in India is widely recognized as Lalitha Raghuram. In 1994, she became the first recorded living organ donor in the country when she donated a kidney to her husband, Dr Raghuram.