National
‘BharOS’, a Made in India mobile operating system
⇒ Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan along with Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw successfully tested the ‘BharOS’, a Made In India mobile operating system developed by IIT Madras on 24 January 2023.
Shri Pradhan said ‘BharOS’ is a successful step towards data privacy. Shri Pradhan further added that successful test of ‘BharOS’ – the Made in India mobile operating system is an important initiative towards fulfilling PM Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of a strong, indigenous & self-reliant digital infrastructure in India.
Key Points:
- Developed by JandK Operations Private Limited (JandKops), the goal of BharOS mobile operating system is to provide consumers greater freedom, power, and flexibility, which can only be modified according to their needs.
- User will be able to receive Native Over the Air (NOTA) patches, just as Android smartphones. The NOTA upgrades, according to the developers, are downloaded and installed on the device without the need for user intervention.
- The OS will also give users access to reliable applications from Organization Specific Private App Store Services (PASS).
- This mobile OS comes with no pre-loaded apps.
Workshop on ‘Success Stories of NAQUIM Studies and PMKSY-HKKP-GW Schemes in North East and East India'
⇒ One Day Workshop on, ‘Success Stories of NAQUIM Studies and PMKSY-HKKP-GW Schemes in North East and East India’ was organised on 24 January 2023 at Guwahati, Assam.
Organised by:
The workshop was organised by North Eastern Region, Guwahati in association with the Eastern Region, Kolkata, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt of India.
Objective:
The objective of this workshop was to disseminate findings of National Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQUIM) studies, making the stakeholders aware of the potential use of the NAQUIM outputs, popularizing successful case studies of NAQUIM studies and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY) – Har Khet Ko Paani (HKKP) – Ground Water (GW) schemes specially in NE states and obtaining feedback of the stakeholders.
Key Points:
- The prime objective of the workshop was to make the stakeholders aware of the potential use of the NAQUIM outputs.
- During the technical sessions, 8 presentations held on NAQUIM findings in the North Eastern States, West Bengal, Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar Islands by the CGWB Scientists.
- Groundwater experts share views for ensuring best possible use of NAQUIM findings for sustainable development of groundwater resources.
About NAQUIM:
» National Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQUIM) programme has been taken up by CGWB with the objectives of delineation of aquifers, characterisation of aquifers, identification of issues and preparing management plans for sustainable management of ground water.
- Major areas where NAQUIM outputs have been used include, Drinking water source finding and source sustainability; selection of sites for Artificial Recharge; Safe Drinking water in Arsenic affected areas; Delineation of artesian zones; Assured irrigation through ground water in areas that have adequate ground water potential (like PMKSY-HKKP-GW); Implementation of water conservation and AR recommendations; Ground Water Regulation based on NAQUIM recommendation; Rejuvenation of Springs, National Schemes like, National Hydrology Project, Atal Bhujal Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission etc.
International
Tri-services Amphibious Exercise, AMPHEX 2023
⇒ The biennial Tri-Services Amphibious Exercise, AMPHEX 2023 was conducted at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh from 17 to 22 January 2023.
AMPHEX 23 is the first time that the exercise was undertaken at Kakinada, and was the largest ever AMPHEX conducted till date.
Aim:
AMPHEX is aimed at joint training of elements of all three services in various facets of amphibious operations to enhance interoperability and synergy.
Key Points:
- The participating forces undertook complex exercises in all domains of amphibious operations over five days.
- The exercise witnessed the participation of a number of amphibious ships consisting of Large Platform Dock (LPD), Landing Ships and Landing Crafts, Marine Commandos (MARCOS), helicopters and aircraft from the Indian Navy.
- Indian Army participated in the exercise with over 900 troops which included Special Forces, Artillery and Armoured vehicles. Jaguar fighters and C 130 aircraft from the IAF also participated in the exercise.
» AMPHEX 2023 successfully demonstrated the amphibious capabilities and validated the excellent coordination that exists between the three Services to undertake the full spectrum of amphibious operations.
Important Day
National Voters’ Day 2023
⇒ Election Commission of India celebrated 13th National Voters’ Day on 25th January 2023.
Theme:
The theme of National Voters’ Day 2023 was ‘Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure’.
- The theme for this year’s NVD was dedicated to voters which conveys individual’s feeling and aspiration towards participation in the electoral process through power of their vote.
Logo For National voters’ Day 2023:
The logo was designed to showcase festivity and inclusivity of the electoral process.
- Ashoka Chakra in the background represents the largest democracy of the world, whereas the inked finger represents participation of each and every voter of the country. The tick mark in the logo stands for informed decision making by the voter.
National Voters’ Day Celebrations:
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, graced and addressed the 13th National Voters’ Day Celebrations in New Delhi on January 25, 2023.
National Awards for the Best Electoral Practices:
On the occasion, the President presented the National Awards for the year 2022 to State and District level officers for their outstanding performance in the conduct of elections during 2022.
- National Awards were presented for the Best Electoral Practices in different spheres such as IT initiatives, Security Management, Election Management, Accessible Election, Electoral Roll and contribution in the field of voter awareness and outreach.
- National Awards were also presented to important stakeholders like government media and communication organizations and other departments for their valuable contribution towards voters’ awareness.
A total of 13 awardees were felicitated for outstanding performance in the conduct of elections during 2022.
Best state:
The best State award was given to CEO Himachal Pradesh for the conduct of Assembly Elections in 2022.
National Media Award:
National Media Award was given to News Services Division, All India Radio for their outreach and awareness program.
NVD brochure 2023 (Official Link)
Other Points:
- The President received the first copy of a book titled ‘Electing the First Citizen – An illustrated Chronicle of India’s Presidential Elections’ from the Chief Election Commissioner, Shri Rajiv Kumar. This book gives glimpses into the historic journey of Presidential Elections in the country.
- An ECI song- “Main Bharat Hoon- Hum Bharat Ke Matdata Hain” produced by ECI in association with Subhash Ghai Foundation, was also screened.
About National Voters’ Day:
- Since 2011, National Voters’ Day has been celebrated on January 25 every year, all across the country to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India, i.e. 25th January 1950.
- The main purpose of this celebration is to create electoral awareness amongst citizens and encourage them to participate in the electoral process.
- The National Voters’ Day is also used to facilitate enrolment of voters, specially the newly eligible young voters.
Death
Noted Indian architect Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi
⇒ Noted Indian architect Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi passed away on 24 January 2023 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He was 95 years old.
About Doshi:
- Doshi is credited with designing some of the most iconic structures in the country such as FLAME University, IIM Bangalore, IIM Udaipur, NIFT Delhi, CEPT University etc. He was worked under Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn.
- Doshi was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture for the Aranya Low-Cost Housing development in Indore.
- He was also awarded the Padma Shri (1976), the Padma Bhushan (2020), the Padma Vibhushan (posthumously, 2023) by the Government of India.
- He became the first Indian architect to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize (often referred to as the Nobel Prize for architecture) in 2018.
- He was the only Indian, and among a few globally, to have been conferred with both the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Royal Gold Medal (awarded in 2022) and the Pritzker Architecture Prize, in their lifetime.