National
NSIC signs MoU with Walmart
⇒ A MoU was signed between Walmart Global Sourcing India Private Limited and The National Small Industries Corporation Limited on 6th December, 2022.
Key Points:
- Through this MoU NSIC will be able to extend the NSIC schemes and other services to MSMEs who would participate in various Vriddhi program. Moreover, the MSMEs would get the exposure to various advantages of gaining working capital, bulk procurement support etc. under various opportunities offered by NSIC.
- MSMEs who are part of the NSIC ecosystem will also be linked to the Vriddhi program in relevant clusters and get access to existing business training content, advisory support, tools and knowledge under the program – “free of cost”.
- The MoU will play a critical role in enabling MSME’s reach $2 trillion worth of exports by 2030.
During the event, Union Minister of MSME Shri Narayan Rane said:
- Walmart’s Vriddhi program has enabled a large number of Indian MSMEs to expand, boost their production, and experience growth.
- The Indian MSME sector currently comprises of 6.3 crore MSMEs that employ more than 11 crore people.
Spatial Data Infrastructure geoportal ‘Geo-Ladakh’ for UT-Ladakh
⇒ Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology; Minister of State (I/C) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that Government of UT – Ladakh has approached the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing for developing “Spatial Data Infrastructure geoportal ‘Geo-Ladakh’ for UT-Ladakh”.
- The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) is a unit of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
About Project:
- The project encompasses spatial database generation (water resources, vegetation and energy potential) using remote sensing, geospatial techniques and the development of a Geo-portal for hosting this database.
- The project also aims towards training of UT-Ladakh officials on Geospatial techniques and applications.
- Portal provides geospatial data visualization and analytics for UT-Ladakh, consisting of Spatial viewer, Carbon Neutrality, Geospatial utlility mapping and Geo-Tourism.
- An MoU was also signed between IIRS (ISRO) and UT-Ladakh Administration on January 1, 2022 towards carrying out the above work. Dr Jitendra Singh said, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on 07 December 2022.
Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) Annual Seminar 2022
⇒ Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, and Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) Annual Seminar 2022 (Fertilizer Sector by 2030) at New Delhi on 07 December 2022.
While addressing the occasion, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya informed “the government has brought various reforms and ensured that fertilizers are made available at affordable prices to Indian farmers. The government have done this by increasing the amount of fertilizer subsidy from US dollars 10 Billion for the pre-pandemic year 2019-20 to almost US dollars 27 Billion in the current year.
- On this occasion, Union Minister also released three FAI publications and FAI Data portal. This portal will create a uniform data base and avoid manual input of data by FAI.
Theme:
The FAI Annual Seminar 2022 was devoted to the theme ‘Fertilizer Sector by 2030’.
» During the seminar, presentations were held on technologies for green fertilizers, worldwide developments in sustainability area, sustainable agriculture, green financing and optimizing cost of logistics.
International
Bilateral Training Exercise “AUSTRA HIND 22”
⇒ The bilateral training exercise “AUSTRA HIND 22” between contingents of the Indian Army and the Australian Army was conducted from 28 November to 11 December 2022 at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
- This was the first exercise in the series of AUSTRA HIND with participation of all arms and services contingent from both armies.
- Exercise “AUSTRA HIND” will be a yearly event that will be conducted alternatively in India and Australia.
Participation:
The Australian Army contingent comprised soldiers from the 13th Brigade of the 2nd Division. The Indian Army was represented by troops from the DOGRA Regiment.
Aim:
The aim of the exercise was to build positive military relations, imbibe each other’s best practices and promote the ability to operate together while undertaking multi-domain operations in Semi deserts terrain under a UN peace enforcement mandate.
Key Points:
- This joint exercise enabled the two armies to share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for conducting tactical operations at Company and Platoon level for neutralising hostile threats.
- The exercise also included training on new generation equipment and specialist weapons including snipers, surveillance & communication equipment to achieve a high degree of situational awareness apart from casualty management, casualty evacuation and planning logistics at Battalion / Company level.
- During the exercise, the participants engaged in a variety of tasks ranging from joint planning, joint tactical drills, sharing basics of special arms skills and raiding a hostile target.
- The joint exercise, beside promoting understanding and interoperability between the two armies; further helped in strengthening ties between India and Australia.
Important Day
Opening ceremony for the International Year of Millets – 2023
⇒ The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, organized an opening ceremony for the International Year of Millets – 2023 (IYM2023) in Rome, Italy.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi conveyed his message at the opening ceremony of the International Year of Millets at the headquarters of the Food and Agricultural Organization in Rome, Italy on 06 December 2022. Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ms Shobha Karandlaje represented India at the opening ceremony in Rome.
Background:
- The United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 ‘International Year of Millets’. It is the Prime Minister’s vision and initiative that led to this United Nations Resolution being adopted with support from more than 70 nations across the globe.
- It will help in creating awareness throughout the world about the significant role of millets in sustainable agriculture and its benefits as a smart and superfood. India is poised to become the global hub for millets with a production of more than 170 lakh tonnes which makes for more than 80 % of the millets produced in Asia. The earliest evidence for these grains has been found in the Indus civilization and was one of the first plants to be domesticated for food. It is grown in about 131 countries and is the traditional food for around 60 crore people in Asia & Africa.
- The Government of India has declared to celebrate IYOM, 2023 to make it a people’s movement so that the Indian millets, recipes, and value-added products are accepted globally. The ‘International Year of Millets’ stands to provide a unique opportunity to increase global production, ensure efficient processing and consumption, promote better utilization of crop rotations and encourage better connectivity throughout food systems to promote millets as a key component of the food basket.
FAO said in a brief message:
- The Opening Ceremony of the International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 hosted by the FAO aims to raise awareness and create momentum for the IYM 2023 by engaging FAO Members and other relevant stakeholders and highlighting the benefits of promoting the sustainable cultivation and consumption of millets.