National
Lunch of National Movement for Energy Conservation named 4E Wave
⇒ The Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shri R K Singh has launched 4E Wave, a student-led National Movement for Energy Conservation. The movement was launched in Delhi on December 7, 2023.
- The movement strives to promote sustainable practices and instil a sense of responsibility in individuals and communities to save energy.
4E Wave encapsulates four key elements:
- Eco-friendliness: Promoting energy-saving practices that are environmentally friendly
- Economy: Emphasizing energy-saving solutions that lead to economic benefits for individuals and communities
- Education: Focusing on educating the public about energy- saving methods and their importance
- Empowerment: Empowering individuals and communities to take active roles in conserving energy
Supported by:
Originating from the students of Government College of Engineering & Technology, Jammu, this youth-led movement, launched with the support of J&K Power Development Department, Government of J&K and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Government of India. It invites individuals across the nation to contribute to the cause of energy conservation.
» On the occasion, the Minister unveiled the web portal of the movement (www.4ewave.com), which will provide an interactive platform to the citizens nationwide for information and resource-sharing related to energy conservation.
- The user-friendly portal requires a simple registration process for on-boarding in the movement and the participants are provided with certificates of acknowledgment.
- Any Indian citizen can be a part of this campaign.
- Participants will also get personalized energy-saving tips tailored to their consumption patterns, regular updates on latest developments in energy conservation and a dynamic platform for sharing articles on energy conservation for publication in the e-magazine named ‘e-kshitij’ to be published quarterly.
- Additionally, the portal will host contests focusing on energy conservation, providing an interactive experience for users.
Ministry of Textiles organizes ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’
⇒ The Ministry of Textiles organized ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ at Dussehra Ground, Shakti Nagar, Kota, Rajasthan on 04th February 2024, in conjunction with AatmNirbhar Bharat Utsav at Kota from 03rd February to 08th February 2024 to promote textiles.
Aim:
- The aim of the event was to promote the handloom sari culture in India by inviting participation of women across the country to showcase their ways of wearing saris and thus present India as a country of “Unity in Diversity”.
- It also promoted the spirit of traditional textile & support the idea of “Vocal for Local” and raised awareness about fitness among women and to encourage them lead healthier lives.
Previous Sari Walkathon:
- The Ministry of Textiles has earlier organized two editions of Sari Walkathon at Surat (9th April 2023) and Mumbai (10th December 2023) with successful response.
» Similarly, Atmanirbhar Bharat Utsav 2024 was also organized to celebrate the self-reliance in India from 3rd January to 10th January, 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam 2023
⇒ Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam 2023 was organised at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram, Vijayawada on the banks of River Krishna in the auspicious month of Karthika from 10th – 12th December, 2023.
» Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam on 10 December.
Organized by:
Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam, a one of its kind music and cultural festival organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Culture, Government of India in collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh and Sangeet Natak Akademi and Ministry of Textiles.
Objective:
The objective of this musical festival was to celebrate the rich heritage of classical music and help revive focus on Harikatha and Namasankeerthana traditions. Also, the aim of the festival was to promote the hidden gems of the region including spiritual, heritage and eco, destinations.
Highlights:
- This three-day cultural extravaganza celebrated the legacy of the rich heritage of Indian classical music by bringing together renowned singers and musicians of the country under one roof.
- A food and crafts festival showcasing handicrafts, handlooms, cuisine and culture of the vibrant state of Andhra Pradesh. A spectacular display of ancient musical instruments also enthralled the visitors.
- One of the highlights of the event was the locally procured souvenirs from Mangalagiri, a weaving village renowned for its GI tagged Mangalagiri sarees, presented to the artists in alignment with the Travel for LiFE campaign of Ministry of Tourism, GoI to promote responsible tourism.
- The event was accorded as a great success in highlighting the music forms, arts and crafts, cuisine and lesser-known destinations in and around Vijayawada.
International
India-Korea Electronic Origin Data Exchange System (EODES) for faster clearance of imported goods
⇒ Mr. Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, launched the India-Korea Electronic Origin Data Exchange System (EODES) on 6th December 2023 in New Delhi.
- EODES was launched in the presence of Mr. KO Kwang Hyo, Commissioner of Korea Customs Service and his delegation.
Aim:
- The Electronic Origin Data Exchange System is aimed at facilitating the smooth implementation of the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by way of electronic exchange of origin information between the two customs administrations in respect of the goods traded under the CEPA.
- The data fields in a Certificate of Origin (CoO) shall be electronically shared by the exporting customs administration with the importing customs, as soon as the certificate is issued. This would facilitate faster clearance of imported goods.
» With the soft launch of the EODES, both sides expressed commitment to its early utilisation in live environment and acknowledged that the launch shall mark a major milestone in the flourishing bilateral relations between the two countries.
Important Day
Human Rights Day 2023
⇒ Human Rights Day is celebrated across the world every year on 10 December.
- 10 December 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges.
Human Rights Day is celebrated to create awareness and mobilize political will to promote respect for the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Theme:
The theme of Human Rights Day 2023 was “Freedom, Equality and Justice for All”.
Background:
- Human Rights Day is the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
- The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 and sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected.
- The UDHR is a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
- The UDHR consists of a preamble and 30 articles that set out a broad range of fundamental human rights and freedoms to which all of us, everywhere around the world, are entitled.
- It guarantees our rights without distinction of nationality, place of residence, gender, national or ethnic origin, religion, language, or any other status.
- The formal inception of Human Rights Day dates from 1950, after the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V) inviting all States and interested organizations to adopt 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.