National
First Global Symposium on Farmers' Rights in New Delhi
⇒ India hosted the first ‘Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights’ from September 12 to 15, 2023.
Organised by:
- This Symposium was organised by the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (International Treaty) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome.
- It was hosted by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in collaboration with Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, and ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources.
Aim:
- The aim of this Symposium was to facilitate implementation of Farmers’ Rights by Contracting Parties of the Treaty through discussions on innovative approaches, effective policies, best practices, knowledge, and experience sharing in implementing Farmers’ Rights.
- The Global Symposium also provided a platform to promote recognition of farmers as conservers of agrobiodiversity and guardians of global food security.
Participation:
This Symposium was attended by more than 700 delegates from 59 countries including the National Focal Points of the International Treaty, farmer bodies from around the world, policy makers, scientists, research scholars, industry representatives, government officers, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, legal experts and civil society.
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated first ‘Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights’ (GSFR) on 12 September 2023, in a ceremony held at ICAR Convention Centre, National Agricultural Science Centre, New Delhi.
‘Plant Genome Saviour Communities’ and ‘Plant Genome Saviour Farmers of India’ for the years 2021 and 2022:
On the occasion, President Murmu conferred the ‘Plant Genome Saviour Communities’ Award (6) and ‘Plant Genome Saviour Farmers Reward’ (16) and ‘Plant Genome Saviour Farmers Recognition’ (4) awards to the invited Indian farmers.
- These awards are instituted by the PPVFR Authority as per the provisions of the PPVFR Act, 2001.
» She also inaugurated the newly constructed ‘Plant Authority Bhawan’, the office of the PPVFR Authority, and an online plant variety ‘Registration Portal’.
» On the occasion, Secretary, DA&FW, Shri Manoj Ahuja informed that India has been the first country in the world to include Farmers’ Rights in the context of Plant Variety Registration through its Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Act, 2001.
Raksha Mantri dedicates to the nation 90 BRO infrastructure projects
⇒ Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has dedicated to the nation 90 infrastructure projects of Border Roads Organisation (BRO), worth over Rs 2,900 crore, spread across 11 States/Union Territories.
The projects were inaugurated by the Raksha Mantri at an event in Jammu on September 12, 2023. The event was organised at Devak Bridge on Bishnah-Kaulpur-Phulpur Road, which was inaugurated by the Raksha Mantri.
- These include Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh; two airfields in West Bengal; two helipads; 22 roads and 63 bridges.
- Of these 90 projects, 36 are in Arunachal Pradesh; 26 in Ladakh; 11 in Jammu & Kashmir; five in Mizoram; three in Himachal Pradesh; two each in Sikkim, Uttarakhand & West Bengal and one each in Nagaland, Rajasthan and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Devak Bridge:
- The state-of-the-art 422.9-meter-long Class 70 RCC Devak bridge is of strategic importance as it will enhance the operational preparedness of the Armed Forces and boost socio-economic development of the region.
Nechiphu Tunnel:
- An important infrastructure project inaugurated by the Raksha Mantri was the 500-metre long Nechiphu Tunnel on Balipara-Charduar-Tawang Road in Arunachal Pradesh.
- This tunnel, along with the under-construction Sela Tunnel, will provide all-weather connectivity to the strategic Tawang Region. It will be beneficial to the Armed Forces deployed in the region and the tourists visiting Tawang.
Bagdogra and Barrackpore Airfields:
- The revamped Bagdogra and Barrackpore Airfields in West Bengal were also dedicated to the nation.
- These airfields, reconstructed at a cost of over Rs 500 crore, will not only bolster the preparedness of the Indian Air Force (IAF), but also facilitate commercial flight operations in the region.
Nyoma Airfield:
- In addition, Shri Rajnath Singh virtually laid the foundation stone of Nyoma Airfield in Eastern Ladakh.
- This airfield, to be developed at a cost of approx Rs 200 crore, will boost the air infrastructure in Ladakh and augment IAF’s capability along the Northern border.
- The Raksha Mantri exuded confidence that this airfield, which will be one of the world’s highest, would prove to be a game-changer for the Armed Forces.
The Raksha Mantri also expressed hope the BRO will soon set another unique record with the construction of Shinkun La Tunnel, the world’s highest tunnel at an altitude of 15,855 feet. The tunnel will connect Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal to the Zaskar Valley in Ladakh and provide all weather connectivity.
Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates Vidya Samiksha Kendra and lays foundation stone of 141 PM SHRI Schools
⇒ Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan along with Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, inaugurated the Vidya Samiksha Kendra and laid the Foundation Stone of 141 PM Shri Schools and the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Residential School in Dehradun, Uttarakhand on 12 September 2023.
While addressing the gathering Shri Pradhan said-
- Vidhya Samiksha Kendra, a technology based and modern data driven model will be an effective step towards improving the learning outcomes of 23.50 lakh school students of Uttarakhand.
- Shri Narendra Modi, as the Chief Minister had introduced Vidya Samiksha Kendra in the state of Gujarat. After the introduction of NEP2020, it has been extended to the entire country.
- With the inauguration of the Kendra in Uttarakhand, the state has also started Vidya Samiksha Kendra on the line of Gujarat Education Model.
- The 40-bed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Residential School will cater to underprivileged children.
PM SHRI School is a centrally sponsored scheme by the Government of India.
- This initiative is intended to develop more than 14500 PM SHRI Schools managed by Central Government/State/UT Government/local bodies including KVS and NVS in which every student feels welcomed and cared for, where a safe and stimulating learning environment exists.
- The Scheme is proposed to be implemented over a period of 5 years with effect from 2022-23 to 2026-27.
International
India and Saudi Arabia sign Agreement on Cooperation in Energy Sector
⇒ India and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of energy.
- The MoU between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was signed in New Delhi on 10th September, 2023.
According to the MoU, India and Saudi Arabia will cooperate in the following areas:
- Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Hydrogen, Electricity and Grid Interconnection between the two countries, Petroleum, Natural Gas, Strategic Petroleum Reserves and Energy Security.
- Encouraging bilateral investment in the field of Renewable Energy, Electricity, Hydrogen and Storage; and Oil & Gas.
- Circular Economy and its technologies to reduce the effects of climate change, such as: carbon capture, utilization and storage.
- Promoting digital transformation, innovation and cyber-security and artificial intelligence in the field of Energy.
- Working on developing qualitative partnerships between the two countries to localize materials, products and services related to all sectors of energy, supply chains and its technologies.
- Strengthening the cooperation with companies specialized in the field of energy.
- Any other fields related to the energy field that the two countries agree upon.
The MoU will develop a stronger partnership between India and Saudi Arabia in the field of energy. The MoU will support India’s efforts for energy transition and transformation of global energy system towards combating climate change.