National
National Florence Nightingale Award 2020
⇒ The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards to the Nursing Personnel in a virtual ceremony September 15, 2021.
Deputy Director-General of Military Nursing Service Brig S V Saraswati has been bestowed with the National Florence Nightingale Award 2020.
Brig Saraswati hails from the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh and was commissioned into the MNS on December 28, 1983.
National Florence Nightingale Award is the highest national distinction a nurse can achieve for selfless devotion and exceptional professionalism.
Shoonya—an initiative to promote zero-pollution delivery vehicles
⇒ NITI Aayog, with RMI and RMI India’s support, on 15 September 2021, launched Shoonya—an initiative to promote zero-pollution delivery vehicles by working with consumers and industry.
Aim:
The campaign aims to accelerate adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the urban deliveries segment and create consumer awareness about the benefits of zero-pollution delivery.
» Industry stakeholders such as e-commerce companies, fleet aggregators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and logistics companies have been scaling up their efforts towards final-mile delivery electrification.
» Initially, close to 30 companies including Mahindra Electric, Tata Motors, Zomato, Sun Mobility, Lightning Logistics, Big Basket, Bluedart, Hero Electric, and Swiggy among others attended the kick-off meeting chaired by Amitabh Kant, the CEO of NITI Aayog, to show their support for the campaign.
Rajbhasha Kirti and Rajbhasha Gaurav Awards 2020-21
⇒ The Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah attended the Hindi Divas – 2021 programme as the Chief Guest at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 14 September 2021.
On this occasion, Shri Amit Shah presented the Rajbhasha Kirti and Rajbhasha Gaurav Awards to Ministries, Departments, Undertakings who have done excellent work in the Official Language during the years 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Official Link to Download List of Rajbhasha Kirti and Rajbhasha Gaurav Awards 2020-21
International
6th edition of the BRICS Young Scientists Forum
⇒ The sixth edition of the BRICS Young Scientists Forum (BRICS YSF) was organized by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), in collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru (NIAS).
- This year, the four-day conclave was held from September 13 to September 16, 2021.
- The forum saw the participation of 125 scientists from the different countries.
Theme:
The 6th BRICS YSF programme included the following activities:
Three Parallel Sessions on the Thematic Areas: Healthcare, Energy Solutions and Cyber Physical system (CPS) and their applications
BRICS Young Innovator Prize:
The best young scientist with an idea on innovation was awarded at the BRICS-YSF 2021.
Young innovator prize has been one of the focuses of the BRICS-YSF and the award is supported by the DST, Government of India.
About:
The idea of the BRICS Young Scientists’ Forum was adopted at the second BRICS Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Ministerial Meeting.
The BRICS-YSF summits were first hosted by India in 2016, followed by China in 2017, South Africa in 2018, Brazil in 2019, and Russia in 2020.
Next conclave:
The next conclave would be organized by China in 2022.
ASEAN summit on Future of India-ASEAN Connectivity Partnerships
⇒ The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH Shri Sarbananda Sonowal addressed the ASEAN summit on Future of India-ASEAN Connectivity Partnerships virtually from New Delhi on 14 September 2021.
Addressing the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit, the Union Minister said:
» Underlined the importance of cross-border connectivity among India and developing nations of South-East Asia.
» Greater connectivity between ASEAN nations has long been both an economic and strategic objective for the ASEAN–India partnership.
» India–ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA) is central to India’s growing engagement with her eastern neighbours.
» Government of India has been making efforts to turn India into a “Global Data Hub” through various policies and reforms.
» India’s data centre industry is expected to add 560 MW during 2021-23 leading to a real estate requirement of 6 million sq ft. The industry is expected to grow exponentially to reach 1,007 MW by 2023 from 447 MW.
18th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultations
⇒ Smt. Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and H.E. Dato Dr. Amin Liew Abdullah, Minister of Finance and Economy, Brunei Darussalam, co-chaired the 18th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultations held virtually on 14th September, 2021.
The meeting was attended by the Economic Ministers of all the 10 ASEAN countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The meeting actively discussed the early commencement of the ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Review.
During the 18th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultations:
» ASEAN countries invited to invest in India in potential sectors like Health and pharmaceutical sector.
» ASEAN India Business Council (AIBC) recommends to enhance the ASEAN- India economic partnership.