National
Winners of 'Water Heroes: Share Your Stories’ Contest 3.0 for October 2022
⇒ Ministry of Jal Shakti has announced the winners of ‘Water Heroes: Share Your Stories’ Contest 3.0 for the month of October 2022 in December 2022.
Water Heroes: Share Your Stories’ contest:
» The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched the ‘Water Heroes: Share Your Stories’ contest.
Till date, three editions of the contest have been launched on MyGov portal.
- The 1st edition was launched from 01 September 2019 to 30 August 2020.
- The 2nd edition was launched from 19 September 2020 to 31 August 2021.
- The 3rd edition has been launched on 01 December 2021 to 30 November 2022.
» The contest is held monthly and may be seen on MyGov portal.
Objective:
- The objective of the contest is to promote value of water, in general, and for supporting country-wide efforts on water conservation and sustainable development of water resources.
- In accordance with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a large population should be motivated to adopt the cause of water conservation in the country.
- The aim of the contest is to create awareness for water conservation by enhancing knowledge and sharing experiences of water heroes; and to create an attitude towards water conservation and management so that a behavioral change can be created amongst all stakeholders.
For the month of October 2022, there are three winners, they received a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and a certificate, details given as below:
- Shri Mahender Singh Tawar, IAS: He organizes Jan choupal among the people, issues related to pond revival discussed, and people were motivated for Shramdaan. As Municipal Commissioner, Ghaziabad Green Bond was launched.
- Ehsas, NGO: The organisation has been working in the field of water conservation for several years, and promoting Rooftop Rain Water Harvesting model.
- Ms. Neha Kushwaha: She started plantation campaign titled “Planting trees in the memory of ancestors”.
1st Drone Skilling & Training Conference and Drone Yatra 2.0
⇒ Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Shri Anurag Singh Thakur addressed the gathering after flagging of the ‘Drone Yatra 2.0’, in Chennai on 06 December 2022.
The Minister operated a drone to mark the inauguration of 1st Drone Skilling & Training Conference and flagged off Drone Yatra at Garuda Aerospace, Agni College of Technology, Chennai.
» The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister said that India will become a hub of drone technology and India will require at least 1 lakh drone pilots by next year.
- Stating that India will require at least 1 lakh pilots in 2023, he said that each pilot will earn at least 50-80 thousand a month. If you take the Conservative Average even Rs 50,000 × 1 lakh youth × 12 months = Rs 6000 crores a year worth employment could be created in the Drone sector.
- Union Minister appreciated the that Garuda Aerospace’s plan to make one lakh ‘Made in India’ drones in the next two years.
- Currently there are over 200 drone start-ups operating in the country, the minister said that this number will increase to generate lakhs of new job opportunities for the youth.
» Garuda’s Drone Skilling & Training Conference which is to be conducted in 775 districts across the country hopes to reach 10 lakh Youth. With an aim to train 1 lakh Youth to significantly impact not just the Drone ecosystem or generate employment for Youth, but hopes to create a massive impact in Agriculture, Mining, Government departments & Other industries.
» Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated India’s first Drone Skilling and Training Virtual E-Learning Platform in Chennai on 06 December.
- Union Minister also launched the first of 1000 planned Drone Centre of Excellence at Garuda Aerospace’s Manufacturing unit in Chennai.
- He also flagged off Garuda Aerospace’s Drone Yatra, ‘Operation 777’ – meant to educate and demonstrate the efficacy of drones for different agricultural uses across 777 districts in India.
Garuda Aerospace is a Chennai-based start-up dealing in drone technology, and its Kisan Drones are fitted with sensors, cameras, and sprayers and help in increasing food crop productivity, reducing crop loss, reduce farmer exposure to harmful chemicals.
'Laureate Award'
⇒ Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Additional Secretary (Revenue) and the Head of the Indian delegation to the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, presented the ‘Laureate award’ to Dr M.Muralikannan, Alternate Principal Officer, Bank of Baroda.
- Additional Secretary (Revenue) presented the Laureate award to Dr. M.Muralikannan for the 1st competition among compliance officers of Financial Institution.
Key Points:
- Dr Muralikarnan had represented India at the competition held in Sochi, in October 2022, and presented a case analysis on the detection of suspected human trafficking and drug smuggling through analysis of risk indicators for money laundering.
- Dr Muralikarnan made a presentation of the case analysis at the 37th Plenary of the Eurasian Group, and contributed to sharing of best practices in money laundering detection.
Important Day
Veer Bal Diwas 2022
⇒ ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ is observed every year on 26 December in India. India celebrated the first ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ on 26 December 2022.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participated in a historic programme organised by Ministry of Culture marking ‘Veer Bal Diwas 2022’ at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi on 26 December 2022.
- During the programme, the Prime Minister attended a ‘Shabad Kirtan’ performed by about three hundred Baal Kirtanis.
- The Prime Minister also flagged off a march-past by about three thousand children in Delhi on this momentous occasion. The march-past was taken out from Major Dhyan Chand Stadium to India Gate (Kartavya Path).
- Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister remarked that India is celebrating the first Veer Bal Diwas on 26 December 2022.
The Government organised interactive and participative programmes all over the country to inform and educate the citizens, especially young children, about the story of the exemplary courage of the Sahibzades.
Background:
- ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ is observed to mark the martyrdom of sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh – Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji (7 years old) and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji (5 years old).
- Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji were martyred in Sarhand by prisoning them alive by bricking them in the walls on 26th December, 1704.
- On 9th January 2022, the day of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had announced that 26th December would be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’. Thereafter, the Government of India has decided to commemorate December 26 as Veer Bal Diwas.