National
PM dedicates Phase 1 of India International Convention and Expo Centre - ‘Yashobhoomi’ and Launches ‘PM Vishwakarma Scheme’
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi dedicated Phase 1 of India International Convention and Expo Centre – ‘Yashobhoomi’ to the nation at Dwarka, New Delhi on 17 September 2023. ‘Yashobhoomi’ boasts of a magnificent Convention Centre, multiple Exhibition halls and other facilities.
» Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi also inaugurated the extension of Delhi Airport Metro Express line from Dwarka Sector 21 to a new metro station ‘Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25’ at Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25.
» He also launched ‘PM Vishwakarma Scheme’ for traditional artisans and craftspeople on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti. The Prime Minister also launched the PM Vishwakarma logo, tagline and portal.
About Yashobhoomi:
» The Prime Minister’s vision of having a world-class infrastructure for hosting meetings, conferences and exhibitions in the country will be strengthened with the operationalization of ‘Yashobhoomi’ at Dwarka.
- With a total project area of over 8.9 lakh square meters and a total built-up area of more than 1.8 lakh square meters, ‘Yashobhoomi’ will find its place among the world’s largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) facilities.
- Developed at a cost of around Rs 5400 crore, ‘Yashobhoomi’ boasts of a magnificent Convention Centre, multiple Exhibition halls and other facilities.
- The Convention Center, built across more than 73 thousand square meters of area, comprises 15 convention rooms including the Main Auditorium, the Grand ballroom and 13 meeting rooms with a total capacity of holding 11,000 delegates.
- The Convention center has the largest LED media facade in the country. The plenary hall in the Convention Center is equipped with a seating capacity of around 6,000 guests.
- The Grand Ballroom, with a unique petal ceiling, can host around 2,500 guests. It also has an extended open area that can seat up to 500 people.
- The 13 meeting rooms that are spread across eight floors are envisaged to hold a variety of meetings of different scales.
» ‘Yashobhoomi’ also offers one of the largest Exhibition halls in the world.
- These Exhibition halls, built across over 1.07 lakh square meters, will be utilized for hosting exhibitions, trade fairs, and business events, and are connected to a grand foyer space which is uniquely designed with a copper ceiling which filters light in the space through the various skylights.
- The foyer will house various support areas such as Media rooms, VVIP lounges, Cloak facilities, visitor information center, and ticketing among others.
» All public circulation areas in ‘Yashobhoomi’ have been designed in such a way that they represent continuity with the convention center’s outdoor space. It is made of materials and objects inspired by Indian culture in the form of terrazzo floors with Brass inlay representing rangolis patterns, suspended sound-absorbent metal cylinders and lit-up patterned walls.
» ‘Yashobhoomi’ is also equipped with high-tech security provisions to ensure the safety of the visitors. The underground car parking facility for over 3,000 cars is also equipped with more than 100 electric charging points.
Platinum certification from CII’s IGBC:
‘Yashobhoomi’ also demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability as it is equipped with a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system with 100% wastewater reuse, provisions of rainwater harvesting, and the campus has received Platinum certification from CII’s Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
New metro station:
» ‘Yashobhoomi’ will also be connected to the Delhi Airport Metro Express line with the inauguration of the new metro station ‘Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25’.
- The new Metro Station will have three subways – a 735m long subway connecting the station to the Exhibition halls, Convention centre, and Central Arena; another connecting the entry/exit across Dwarka Expressway; while the third one connecting the Metro station to the foyer of the future Exhibition halls of ‘Yashobhoomi’.
PM Vishwakarma Scheme:
» PM Vishwakarma will be fully funded by the Union Government with an outlay of Rs 13,000 crores.
Under the scheme, the Vishwakarmas will be registered free of charge through Common Services Centres using the biometric-based PM Vishwakarma portal.
- They will be provided recognition through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card, skill upgradation involving basic and advanced training, toolkit incentive of ₹15,000, collateral-free credit support up to ₹1 lakh (first tranche) and ₹2 lakh (second tranche) at a concessional interest rate of 5%, incentive for digital transactions and marketing support.
Aim:
- The Scheme aims to strengthen and nurture the Guru-Shishya parampara or family-based practice of traditional skills by Vishwakarmas working with their hands and tools.
- The prime focus of PM Vishwakarma is to improve the quality as well as the reach of products and services of artisans and craftspeople and to ensure that they are integrated with the domestic and global value chains.
International
4th and the last meeting of the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group
⇒ The 4th and the last meeting of the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) was held in Varanasi from September 13-14, 2023.
- The two-day meeting witnessed proactive engagement from over 80 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries and International Organisations including World Bank, New Development Bank, among others. Many other organisations joined the meeting virtually.
G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group:
- The G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) aims to mobilise sustainable finance to help ensure global growth and stability, and promote the transition towards greener, more resilient and inclusive societies and economies.
- The main purpose of the Group is to advance international work to help scale up private and public sustainable finance and in doing so, accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- The G20 Sustainable Finance Roadmap, as finalized in 2021 under the Italian G20 Presidency, is the core framework around which the SFWG functions and takes up future work.
- To this end, the SFWG in 2023 carried out work for enabling finance for SDGs along with the mobilisation of timely and adequate resources for climate finance as agenda priorities. The SFWG during India’s G20 presidency has made recommendations on the six identified areas.
Priority Areas:
- Mobilizing Timely and Adequate Resources For Climate Finance
- Enabling Finance for The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG),
- Capacity Building for Sustainable Development Financing.
- To Promote Sustainable Finance to Foster Global Growth, Stability, And A Transition Toward Greener and More Inclusive Economies
- Strengthening Climate Finance
Day 1:
Discussions on the first day of the meeting highlighted the focus areas of the WG towards building a sustainable finance roadmap.
The following sessions were held:
- Session 1: Selected G20 members and International Organizations presented progress on Focus Area 1 on market development and approaches to align investments to sustainability goals.
- Session 2: Selected G20 members and International Organizations presented progress on Focus Area 2 on consistent, comparable, and decision-useful information on sustainability risks, opportunities and impacts followed by an open discussion.
- Session 3: Selected G20 members and International Organizations presented progress on Focus Area 3 on assessment and management of climate and other sustainability risks.
Day 2:
The second day started off with a session wherein delegates discussed about the G20 Sustainable Finance Roadmap Focus Area 3.
Later, the following sessions were held:
- Session 4: Selected G20 members and International Organizations presented progress on Focus Area 4 on role of IFIs, public finance and incentives.
- Session 5: Selected G20 members and International Organizations presented progress on Focus Area 5 on cross cutting issues, followed by an open discussion.
- Session 6: Adoption of 2023 G20 Sustainable Finance Report and discussion on the implementation of the 2023 deliverables.
» The day concluded with remarks by Brazil 2024 G20 Presidency representatives and concluding remarks by Co-chairs and the India G20 Presidency.
Important Day
National Engineers' Day 2023
⇒ Engineers’ Day is celebrated every year on 15 September in India.
This a day of reverence for the contributions and achievements of engineers across various fields of science and technology.
Theme:
The theme for Engineers’ Day 2023 in India was “Engineering for a Sustainable Future.”
History:
- This special day coincides with the birth anniversary of Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, a prominent figure in India’s engineering history. Engineers Day was announced by the Government of India in the year 1968, since then it is celebrated every year on this day.
About Dr M Visvesvaraya:
- Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, fondly known as M Visvesvaraya or Sir MV, was born on September 15, 1861, in Muddenahalli, Karnataka. He earned recognition as a distinguished civil engineer, statesman, scholar, and visionary who played an instrumental role in shaping India’s infrastructure, irrigation, and industrial landscape.
- For his amazing achievements, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in 1955. His amazing life ended in 1962, when he was 101 years old.
» Engineers Day, which is celebrated on 15 September every year in India, is also celebrated in Sri Lanka and Tanzania. In these countries also, Engineer’s Day is celebrated in the memory of Sir Dr. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya.