National
New Logo of NMDC
⇒ Union Minister of Steel and Civil Aviation Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia unveiled the new logo of NMDC at New Delhi on 03 August 2023.
The Union Minister said that NMDC’s new logo represents how India’s largest producer of iron ore, is all set for the mining at a global scale in a sustainable and green environment. This logo communicates the responsibilities of NMDC towards mining in harmony with nature and people, towards ensuring mineral security & building mineral accountability, and towards infusing self-reliance in our sector.
The CMD, NMDC, during his welcome address, spoke about how the new logo is a manifestation of NMDC’s vision of NMDC 2.0.
- As a homage to our heritage, we have retained the blue cog representing the mineral mining cycle, symbolizing the steadfastness and trust we have earned over the decades.
- At the center of the logo, a hand cradling the earth signifies NMDC’s commitment towards sustainable & responsible mining and also the global aspirations.
- The vibrant green color symbolizes growth, renewal, and harmony with nature.
PM lays foundation stone for redevelopment of 508 Railway Stations across the country
⇒ In a historic move, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 Railway Stations across the country via video conferencing on 06 August 2023.
Key Points:
- These stations will be redeveloped at a cost of more than Rs 24,470 crores.
- Master Plans are being prepared for the development of these stations as ‘City Centres’, with proper integration of both sides of the city. This integrated approach is driven by the holistic vision of the overall urban development of the city, centered around the railway station.
- These 508 stations are spread across 27 states and union territories, including 55 each in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, 49 in Bihar, 44 in Maharashtra, 37 in West Bengal, 34 in Madhya Pradesh, 32 in Assam, 25 in Odisha, 22 in Punjab, 21 each in Gujarat and Telangana, 20 in Jharkhand, 18 each in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, 15 in Haryana, 13 in Karnataka among others.
- The redevelopment will provide modern passenger amenities along with ensuring well-designed traffic circulation, inter-modal integration and signage for the guidance of passengers. The design of the station buildings will be inspired by local culture, heritage and architecture.
Background:
- The Prime Minister has often laid stress on the provision of state-of-the-art public transport. Noting that railways is the preferred mode of transport for people across the country, he has emphasized the importance of providing world-class amenities at railway stations.
- Guided by this vision, the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme was launched to redevelop 1309 stations nationwide.
- As part of this scheme, the Prime Minister has laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 railway stations.
The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023
⇒ Parliament passed the Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill – 2023 during the monsoon session in August 2023.
- The bill seeks to empower Commander-in-Chief and Officer-in Command of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) with all disciplinary and administrative powers in respect of the personnel serving in or attached to such organisations.
- Currently, the Armed Forces personnel are governed in accordance with the provisions contained in their specific Service Acts – Army Act 1950, Navy Act 1957 and Air Force Act 1950. The enactment of the Bill will have various tangible benefits such as maintenance of effective discipline in inter-services establishments by the Heads of ISOs, no requirement of reverting personnel under disciplinary proceedings to their parent Service units, expeditious disposal of cases of misdemeanour or indiscipline and saving of public money & time by avoiding multiple proceedings.
- The Bill would also pave the way for much greater integration and jointness amongst the three Services; lay a strong foundation for creation of Joint Structures in times to come and further improve the functioning of the Armed Forces.
Salient Features:
- The ‘ISO Bill – 2023’ shall be applicable to all personnel of regular Army, Navy, and Air force, and to persons of other forces as notified by the Central Government, who are serving in or attached to an Inter-Services Organisation.
- This Bill empowers the Commander-in-Chief, Officer-in-Command or any other officer specially empowered in this behalf by the Central Government with all the disciplinary and administrative powers in respect of personnel serving in or attached to their Inter-Services Organisations for the maintenance of discipline and proper discharge of their duties, irrespective of the service to which they belong.
- The Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command means General Officer/Flag Officer/Air Officer who has been appointed as Commander-in-Chief of Officer-in-Command an Inter-Services Organisation.
- To maintain Command and Control in absence of the Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command, the officiating incumbent or the officer on whom the command develops in absence of a C-in-C or Oi/C, will also be empowered to initiate all disciplinary or administrative actions overs the service personnel, appointed, deputed, posted or attached to an Inter-Services organisation.
- The Bill also empowers the Commanding Officer of an Inter-Services organisation to initiate all disciplinary or administrative actions over the personnel appointed, deputed, posted or attached to that Inter-Services Organisation. For the purpose of this Act, Commanding Officer means the officer in actual command of the unit, ship or establishment.
- The Bill empowers the Central Government to constitute an Inter- Services Organisation.
The ‘ISO Bill-2023’ is essentially an Enabling Act and it does not propose any change in the existing Service Acts/Rules/Regulations which are time-tested and have withstood judicial scrutiny over the last six decades or more. Service personnel when serving in or attached to an Inter-Services Organisation will continue to be governed by their respective Service Acts. What it does is to empower Heads of Inter-Services Organisations to exercise all the disciplinary and administrative powers as per the existing Service Acts/Rules/Regulations, irrespective of the service they belong to.
» The Bill became an Act after the assent of the President on August 15, 2023, and is called the Inter-services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023.
- This is an Act to empower the Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command of Inter-services Organisations in respect of service personnel who are subject to the Air ForceAct, 1950, the Army Act, 1950 and the Navy Act, 1957, who are serving under or attached to his command, for the maintenance of discipline and proper discharge of their duties, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Important Day
9th National Handloom Day 2023
⇒ National Handloom Day is celebrated every year on 07 August.
- The 9th National Handloom Day was celebrated on 07 August 2023.
National Handloom Day is a wonderful occasion that was created to honour the community of weavers who work with handlooms and celebrate the contributions that have been made to the socioeconomic development of our country.
Theme:
The theme of National Handloom Day 2023 was “Handlooms for Sustainable Fashion”.
- It emphasises the significance of handloom weaving as an environmentally friendly procedure and sustainable substitute for machine-made fabrics.
History:
- In 2015, the Government of India decided to designate the 7th August every year, as the National Handloom Day.
- The date was specifically chosen as an ode to the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on 7th August 1905 and encouraged indigenous industries, particularly handloom weavers. The objective of the movement was to boycott British goods in favour of Indian-made products.
- The first National Handloom Day was inaugurated on 7 August 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai.