National
Book titled ‘Reflections’
⇒ Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt Nirmala Sitharaman launched ‘Reflections’, a book authored by eminent banker Shri Narayanan Vaghul, in Mumbai, on 28 April 2023.
- The book carries a vivid account of Shri Vaghul’s experiences spanning decades in India’s financial landscape.
- Widely considered as the architect of modern banking in India, Shri Vaghul’s book recounts the dramatic, humorous, and often momentous events throughout his illustrious career. Packed with fascinating anecdotes, the book touches upon various initiatives that he was privileged to have been part of.
National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22
⇒ Dr. S. Chandrasekhar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, released the “National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22: Summary for Policymakers” on April 27, 2023.
Launching the summary report Dr. Chandrasekhar said “The National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22 was undertaken by DST as the Government of India has prioritised enhancing the competitiveness of Indian manufacturing and increasing its share in the GDP”.
About National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22:
» The National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22 is a joint study by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to evaluate the innovation performance of manufacturing firms in the India.
Key Points:
- The NMIS 2021-22 study was conducted as a 2-pronged survey that examined the innovation processes, outcomes, and barriers in manufacturing firms and also studied the innovation ecosystem that affects innovation outcomes in these firms.
- This study is a follow-up of DST’s first National Innovation Survey held in 2011.
- The collaborative study by DST-UNIDO allowed a 360-degree approach to measuring manufacturing innovation outcomes, processes, and barriers at the firm level, mapping the contributing processes and interactions and thereby assessing the performance of states, sectors, and firm sizes.
The NMIS 2021-22 survey had two specific components: the firm-level survey and the sectorial systems of innovation (SSI) survey.
- The Firm-level survey captured data related to types of innovations and innovative measures taken by firms, including the process of innovation, access to finance, resources, and information for innovation, besides also recording the factors impacting the innovation activities in a firm. One in four firms was found to have successfully implemented an innovation in the observation period, and over 80% of these firms benefitted significantly in expanding markets and production and reducing costs.
- The Sectorial System of Innovation survey mapped the manufacturing innovation system and its enabling role in achieving innovations in firms. The SSI study measured the interactions between stakeholders of the innovation ecosystem, relative barriers to innovation, as well as the convergence or divergence of current policy instruments in select five key manufacturing sectors important to the Indian economy – textiles; food & beverage; automotive; pharma; and ICT.
Other Points:
- A total of 8,087 firms participated in the firm-level survey, while 5,488 firms and non-firms participated in the SSI survey.
- The findings from the firm-level survey are captured in the ‘Assessment of Firm-Level Innovation in Indian Manufacturing’.
- Separately, five reports from the study of the sectorial systems of innovation within five manufacturing sectors, namely, Automotive, Pharmaceutical, Textile, Food & Beverages, and Information & Communication Technologies (ICT), have been developed.
IMC India Calling Conference 2023
⇒ Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, delivered the inaugural address at the ‘India Calling Conference 2023’ organized by the Indian Merchants Chamber in Mumbai on 29 April 2023.
- During his address, he highlighted the contribution of companies from small countries, such as the Czech Republic and Poland, to the supply chain of big companies around the globe. Minister Goyal appealed to all to aim for a 47 trillion-dollar economy when India reaches the year 2047.
» Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari delivered a speech at a session on PM Gati Shakti during ‘India Calling Conference 2023’.
- Shri Gadkari congratulated IMC for organizing ‘India Calling Conference’ every year with an objective to promote ‘Brand-India’.
Theme:
The theme of IMC India Calling 2023 was – ‘Rising India; Inviting Partnership for growth’.
The following topics were discussed during the conference:
- Gati Shakti – National Master Plan for Multimodal Connectivity
- Opportunities in Defence Manufacturing
- Opportunities – Tourism
- Opportunities – Real Estate and Urban Development
» The day-long Conference was attended by leading Indian and international experts from industry and government and shared insights into development of markets in India, policy inputs and opportunities for companies to invest and collaborate in these areas.
About IMC India Calling Conference:
IMC India Calling Conference is an annual feature established by IMC to provide networking platforms for Indian and global players to come together and debate, share insights and explore potential investment opportunities and collaborations.
International
10th Meeting for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Transport Ministers
⇒ Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari chaired the 10th Meeting for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Transport Ministers at New Delhi on 28 April 2023.
- India chaired the 10th Meeting for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Transport Ministers.
Key Points:
» During the meeting, all the member states supported the “Concept of cooperation of the SCO Member States to decarbonize transport, promote digital transformation and innovative technologies to achieve greater efficiency and sustainability”.
» A Special Working Group has been established to promote collaboration among member states of the SCO in the field of transportation.
- This group will facilitate meetings to share knowledge and best practices related to reducing carbon emissions in transportation, promoting digital transformation, and implementing innovative technologies for more sustainable and efficient transport.
About SCO:
- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization founded in Shanghai on 15 June 2001.
- The SCO currently comprises of eight Member States which are India, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Current Chair:
Kazakhstan assumed the rotational chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from July 2023 to July 2024 during the Heads of State Council virtual meeting on July 4, 2023.
Important Day
World Veterinary Day 2023
⇒ World Veterinary Day is celebrated every year on the last Saturday of April to recognize the work of veterinarians around the world and their contributions to improving animal health and welfare as well as public health.
- The World Veterinary Day 2023 was celebrated on 29th April 2023.
Under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt of India in close collaboration with Veterinary Council of India celebrated World Veterinary Day 2023.
Theme:
The theme of World Veterinary Day 2023 was ‘Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness in the Veterinary Profession’.
- The 2023 World Veterinary Day celebrated efforts from veterinarians, veterinary associations and others to advocate for fairness and equity. Removing barriers and improving inclusiveness through diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and practices, in a diverse world, needs a special focus. The well-being of all veterinarians is enhanced when diversity, equity and inclusion is promoted and applied.
History:
World Veterinary Day was founded by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and was first celebrated on April 29, 2000. Since then, it has always been commemorated on the last Saturday of April.