National
Memorandum of Settlement between Government of India, Government of Assam and representatives of Dimasa National Liberation Army/Dimasa Peoples’ Supreme Council (DNLA/DPSC)
⇒ A tripartite Memorandum of Settlement was signed between the Government of India, the Government of Assam and representatives of Dimasa National Liberation Army/Dimasa Peoples’ Supreme Council (DNLA/DPSC) in New Delhi on 27 April 2023.
- The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister, Assam and senior officers of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Government of Assam.
» The Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that this agreement is another significant milestone towards making North-East insurgency-free by 2024 and fulfilling the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous North East.
- The Union Home Minister said, this agreement will completely end insurgency in Dima Hasao district of Assam.
- He said that under the agreement, the representatives of DNLA have agreed to abjure violence, surrender all arms and ammunition, disband their armed organization, vacate all camps occupied by DNLA cadres and join the peaceful democratic process as established by the law. As a result of this agreement, over 168 cadres of DNLA are joining the mainstream by laying down their arms.
Key Points:
- Under the agreement, Dimasa Welfare Council will be set up by the Government of Assam to protect, preserve and promote social, cultural, linguistic identity to meet political, economic and educational aspirations and will ensure speedy and focused development of the Dimasa people residing outside the jurisdiction of the Autonomous Council.
- Along with this, agreement also provides for appointment of a Commission under Paragraph 14 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India to examine the demand for inclusion of additional villages contiguous to North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) with the Council.
- The Agreement also provides for necessary measures to be taken by the Government of India and the Government of Assam to rehabilitate the surrendered armed cadres of DNLA. To this effect, a Special Development package of Rs 500 crore each, will also be provided by the Government of India and Government of Assam over a period of five years, for all round development of NCHAC as well as Dimasa people residing in other parts of the State.
First of its kind ‘Millets Experience Centre (MEC)’ in New Delhi
⇒ Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) and NAFED launched the first of its kind ‘Millets Experience Centre (MEC)’ at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi on 28 April 2023.
- NAFED in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) established the Millets Experience Centre with an aim to raise awareness on Millets and encourage its adoption among general public.
Acting upon India’s proposal supported by 72 countries, the United Nations General Assembly declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023).
» Shri Rajbir Singh, Managing Director, NAFED said that Millets Experience Centre (Shree Anna) is a unique concept that will help in the recognition of the immense potential of millets (Shree Anna) as a versatile and healthy grain.
- This MEC (Shree Anna) will enable the consumers to enjoy an expansive Millet menu and an ‘in-store’ shopping experience featuring a wide variety of millet-based products developed by home grown startups- all under one roof. The millets (Shree Anna)-based products will also be instrumental in promoting healthy snacking among customers, encouraging them towards adopting healthier millets-centric diets.
IMPHAL, Indian Navy's 3rd Ship of Project 15B
⇒ Imphal, Indian Navy’s third indigenous stealth destroyer of the Project 15B class, planned to be commissioned later this year, undertook her maiden sea sortie on 28 April 2023.
Designed by:
The ship incorporates several niche technologies and high indigenous content and is designed in-house by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL).
- The ship is a proud testament to the Indian Navy’s thrust on the national vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives.
Ship Name:
- Imphal will have the unique distinction of being the largest and most advanced destroyer to be ever named after a city from the North-East.
- Imphal would thus be a befitting symbol of the growing importance and contribution of the North-Eastern region and the state of Manipur towards national security and development.
» Imphal will add significantly to the Indian Navy’s combat capabilities.
International
India-UK "NET Zero" Innovation Virtual Centre
⇒ 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 announced India and UK to jointly create India-UK ‘NET Zero’ Innovation Virtual Centre.
- India and United Kingdom will together jointly create India-UK “NET Zero” Innovation Virtual Centre.
This was announced by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh while chairing the India-UK Science & Innovation Council meeting on 27 April 2023 in presence of his British counterpart, UK Minister George Freeman.
Key Points:
- The two leaders called for enhanced Science & Technology cooperation between India and the United Kingdom.
- Both the Ministers appreciated the proposal to create an India-UK “NET Zero” Innovation Virtual Centre. It will provide a platform to bring stakeholders from both countries together to work in some of the focus areas including Decarbonization of manufacturing process & transport systems and Green Hydrogen as renewable source.
- Both the leaders called for newer collaborations for joint R & D Projects between BBSRC- DBT in the area of Farmed Animal disease and Health & MOES-NERC Call in the area of Solid Earth hazards.