National
21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands named after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees
⇒ On Parakram Diwas, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participated in a ceremony to name the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees on 23 January 2023 via video conferencing.
- During the programme, the Prime Minister also unveiled the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji to be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep.
- The Prime Minister informed that the naming ceremony of 21 islands from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is taking place and they will now be recognised as the names of 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees.
On this historic occasion, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah also participated in a special function organized at Port Blair. He honored the family members of Param Vir Chakra awardees Subedar Major Retired (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav, Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar, Naib Subedar Bana Singh and family members of other soldiers.
Key Points:
- Giving due respect to the real-life heroes of the country has always been accorded the highest priority by the Prime Minister.
- Going ahead with this spirit, it has now been decided to name the 21 largest unnamed islands of the island group after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees.
- The largest unnamed island will be named after the first Param Vir Chakra awardee, the second largest unnamed island will be named after the second Param Vir Chakra awardee, and so on.
- This step will be an everlasting tribute to our heroes, several of whom made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.
These islands have been named after the 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees. Major Somnath Sharma; Subedar and Hony Captain (then Lance Naik) Karam Singh, MM; 2nd Lt. Rama Raghoba Rane; Nayak Jadunath Singh; Company Havildar Major Piru Singh; Capt GS Salaria; Lieutenant Colonel (then Major) Dhan Singh Thapa; Subedar Joginder Singh; Major Shaitan Singh; CQMH. Abdul Hamid; Lt Col Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore; Lance Naik Albert Ekka; Major Hoshiar Singh; 2nd Lt. Arun Khetrapal; Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon; Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran; Naib Subedar Bana Singh; Captain Vikram Batra; Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey; Subedar Major (then Rifleman) Sanjay Kumar; and Subedar Major Retd (Hony Captain) Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav.
Other Points:
- Keeping in mind the historical significance of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and to honour the memory of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Ross Islands was renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep by the Prime Minister during his visit to the Island in 2018.
- Neil Island and Havelock Island were also renamed Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep.
» The Government of India has decided to observe 23 January as ‘Parakram Diwas’ to commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Bandipur Yuva Mitra educational programme for children
⇒ National Museum of Natural History signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Karnataka Forest Department to jointly organize a string of educational programmes for the school children at Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Regional Museum of Natural History, Mysore in January 2023.
» A string of educational programmes for the school children were organized through an educational programme titled “BANDIPUR YUVA MITRA”.
National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is a subordinate office of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi.
International
Inaugural Edition of Indo-Egypt Joint Training Exercise Cyclone - I
⇒ The first ever joint exercise between the special forces of the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army named “Exercise Cyclone-I” started at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on 14 January 2023.
- The 14 days long exercise carried out in the deserts of Rajasthan. The Indo-Egypt Joint Training Exercise Cyclone – I was culminated on 27 January 2023 after intense validation training.
Aim:
The aim of the exercise was to bolster defence co-operation between the two nations and focused on sharing professional skills and interoperability of Special Forces in desert terrain while undertaking counter terrorism, reconnaissance, raids and other special operations.
Key Points:
- Exercise “Cyclone – I” was the first exercise of its kind which brought the special forces of both the nations on a common platform.
- Both the contingents were engaged in advance special forces skills such as Sniping, Combat Free Fall, Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Designation, sharing of information on weapons, equipment, innovations, tactics, techniques & procedures.
- The participants also undertook joint planning and drills for Special Forces operations in a mechanised warfare setting as well as surgical strikes on terrorist camps / hideouts to include sniping of High Value Targets.
» The joint exercise provided an insight into the culture and ethos of both the armies, thereby promoting military cooperation and interoperability, further strengthening diplomatic relations between India and Egypt.
Overseas Deployment of ICGS SHAURYA and RAJVEER to Bangladesh
⇒ Indian Coast Guard Ships ICGS Shaurya and Rajveer were on a six-day visit to Chattogram, Bangladesh from 13 to 19 January, 2023.
- The visit was to enhance the cooperative engagements and interoperability under the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Indian and Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG).
- The visit holds significance in strengthening the bilateral relationships with BCG which has grown manifold over the years to ensure safe, secure and clean seas in the Region.
Key Points:
- During the visit, Pollution Response Team of Indian Coast Guard conducted a five-day International Maritime Organisation Level I course on Pollution Response for the first time in Bangladesh for 20 BCG personnel.
- The BCG personnel were also imparted training on operations of PR equipment onboard ICGS Ships Shaurya and Rajveer.
- A joint exercise was held at sea with BCG ships to validate the established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in area of environmental protection and Search and Rescue at the end of the visit.
Important Day
Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura Statehood Day
⇒ Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura celebrated their Statehood Day on 21st January.
- In 1972, these three states became full-fledged states under the North Eastern Region (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.