National
Software Application "Dashboard" Portal of the Ministry of Science & Technology
⇒ Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh launched the software application “Dashboard” portal of the Ministry of Science & Technology.
Speaking while launching the software application “Dashboard”, Dr Jitendra Singh called upon the DST officials to make use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven technology to analyse Parliament Questions on various parameters including member’s profile.
Key Points:
- The software application launched for real-time, prompt and effective Parliament business including Parliament Questions, Acts of Parliament and Gazette Notifications of Govt of India as well as Cabinet Notes.
- The new portal serves as a dashboard for all activities of DST.
Earlier, the Minister laid the Foundation Stone of the new Auditorium-cum-Guest House Complex in the premises of the “Technology Bhavan” which is the headquarters of the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
- The new 500-seater state-of-the-art Auditorium Block (5000 sq meters) is being built in Technology Bhawan Complex with double basement car parking (9000 sq meters).
- The auditorium block is planned to be completed in 24 months.
- IRCON ISL is the Project Management Consultant for the project.
2023 edition of the “Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue” (IPRD-2023)
⇒ The “Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2023” (IPRD-2023), the three-day annual apex-level international conference of the Indian Navy – was held at Zorawar Auditorium, Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi from 15 to 17 November 2023.
- International participation in IPRD 2023 came through eminent speakers from 16 countries. IPRD 2023 engaged globally renowned experts from India and abroad, senior officers from the Indian Armed Forces and the Government of India, scholars and the public-at-large in intensive deliberations in several sub-topics.
Organised by:
The IPRD-2023 was organised by the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), New Delhi, as the Indian Navy’s knowledge partner.
Theme of IPRD-2023:
The overarching theme of IPRD-2023 was “Geopolitical Impacts upon Indo-Pacific Maritime Trade and Connectivity”.
- This year’s edition of the IPRD built upon the previous one, which focussed upon ‘Operationalising the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)’, by specifically addressing the ‘Trade, Connectivity and Maritime Transport’ pillar of the IPOI.
- Both ‘Trade’ and ‘Maritime Transport’ are, of course, segments of maritime connectivity.
IPRD-2023 was conducted in six professional sessions over a three-day period. The sessions were:
- Nodes of Maritime Connectivity
- China’s Impact vis-à-vis Maritime Connectivity across the Indo-Pacific
- Maritime Connectivity through Shipping and Trade
- Maritime Connectivity through Shipping and Trade (Part 2)
- Private Industry in the Safety and Security of Indo-Pacific Maritime Trade and Shipping
- Maintaining a Rules-based, Safe, and Secure Indo-Pacific
Day 1:
» The “Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2023” (IPRD-2023), the three-day annual apex-level regional strategic dialogue of the Indian Navy, commenced in New Delhi on 15 November.
Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, the Vice President of India was the Chief Guest for the ‘Commemorative Session’, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs delivered the Special Address.
Release of Publications:
» During the event, the Vice President also released a book titled “Building Partnership: India & International Cooperation for Maritime Security” authored by Capt Himadri Das.
» Hon’ble Finance Minister also released an edited volume entitled “Maritime Perspectives: Maritime Security Dynamics in the Indo-Pacific: Strategies and Trends”.
- Both the books have been published by the National Maritime Foundation (NMF).
Professional Sessions:
Two professional sessions held during the day focussed on the themes – “Nodes of Maritime Connectivity” and “Maritime Connectivity Initiatives Across the Indo-Pacific”.
Day 2:
» The theme of the two professional sessions on the second day was “Maritime Connectivity through Shipping and Trade”.
» Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff also released a report “India-Vietnam Dyadic Approached to Holistic Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific”.
» On the second day, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal released a book entitled “Shipbuilding Trends and the Rise of Indo-Pacific”, published by the National Maritime Foundation (NMF).
Professional Sessions:
The second session of the day built upon the previous one, and explored in greater detail the trade and shipping facets of maritime connectivity in the Indian Ocean; the lessons emerging for maritime shipping and trade from the Russia-Ukraine conflict; India’s engagement with the Djibouti Code of Conduct – Jeddah Amendment (DCoC-JA) and the Contact Group on Illicit Maritime Affairs (CGIMA) for promotion of security of shipping and maritime trade in the IOR; the supply chain challenges in respect of Rare Earth Elements (REE), Rare Metals (RMs), and Energy Critical Elements (ECE) in the Indo-Pacific, and the potential of the SAGARMALA project from a Sri Lankan perspective.
» VAdm G Ashok Kumar (Retd), National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC), Government of India also released a book titled ‘Gwadar – A Chinese Gibraltar‘, authored by Captain Alok Bansal (Retd), Indian Navy at the end of the second session.
Day 3:
» The final day of the conference comprised of two professional sessions. The first session centred upon the theme “Private Industry in the Safety and Security of Indo-Pacific Maritime Trade and Shipping” and brought forth the perspectives of Indian industry in the specific areas of shipping, defence industry and space-based surveillance in the maritime domain.
» The second professional session of the day on the theme “Maintaining a Rules-based, Safe, and Secure Indo-Pacific” included a Special Address by Smt Meenakashi Lekhi, Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs and Minister of State for Culture.
» The Minister also released a book entitled ‘Maritime Perspectives 2023: Approaches to a Sustainable Marine Environment: Challenges and Solutions’, published by the National Maritime Foundation.
» VAdm Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy also released a Symposium Report titled ‘Addressing Climate Change Threats to National and Regional Holistic Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific’.
MoUs:
During the course of the three-day conference, the NMF signed MoUs of cooperation with four prominent think-tanks in the Indo-Pacific, namely: the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE), Nepal; the Global Centre for Policy and Strategy (GLOCEPS), Kenya; the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), Vietnam; and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi.
Background:
- The IPRD is the principal manifestation of the Navy’s international engagement at the strategic-level, addressing ‘holistic’ maritime security issues across the Indo-Pacific.
- The first two editions of IPRD were held in 2018 and 2019 respectively at New Delhi. The third edition of IPRD was held in 2021 in online mode and the fourth edition was conducted, reverting to a physical format, at New Delhi in 2022.
- Established in 2005, the NMF is one of India’s foremost maritime think-tank that concentrates its research upon issues relevant to India’s maritime interests, and has gained significant international traction for conduct of independent, original, and policy-relevant research on all ‘matters maritime’.
International
6th Session of India-Ethiopia Joint Trade Committee (JTC)
⇒ The 6th Session of India-Ethiopia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 6-7 November, 2023.
Co-chaired by:
The meeting was co-chaired by the Economic Advisor, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI, Ms Priya P Nair and the Lead Executive of the International and Regional Trade Integration, Ministry of Trade & Regional Integration, Ethiopia, Mr Tages Mulugeta.
Key Points:
- Both sides agreed to expeditiously address all issues impeding bilateral trade and facilitate trade promotion between the two countries.
- The Indian side invited the Ethiopian side to collaborate on the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) of India with Ethswitch of Ethiopia.
- Further, the Indian side also urged Ethiopia to explore the possibility of settlement of trade transactions in local currency which will help boost bilateral trade and conserve foreign exchange.
- The deliberations of the 6th Sessions of India-Ethiopia JTC were cordial and forward-looking, reflecting the traditionally friendly and special relations between the two countries.
Background:
- The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in the African region, with an estimated growth of 6.4% in the year 2021-22.
- Bilateral trade between India and Ethiopia stood at USD 642.59 million in 2022-23. India is the second largest exporter to Ethiopia. Indian companies are among the top three foreign investors in Ethiopia with existing Indian investment of USD 5 billion of which, about USD 3-4 billion is estimated to be on the ground.
- Indian companies have invested in various sectors like agriculture and floriculture, engineering, plastics, manufacturing, cotton and textiles, water management, pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
Sports
Army Medical Corps Officer Lt Col Sanjeev Malik wins five gold medals at the 42nd World Medicine and Health Games 2023
⇒ Army Medical Corps officer Lt Col Sanjeev Malik has made history by winning Five Gold Medals in 42nd World Medicine and Health Games in Colombia.
- He is presently posted in the President’s Body Guards, Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.
His victories in the 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, and cross-country events make him the only athlete to achieve this feat in 2023 and one of a select few since the Games began in 1978.
About 42nd World Medicine and Health Games 2023:
» The 42nd edition of the Medigames was organized by the World Medical and Health Games (WMHG) and was held from November 04 – 11, 2023 at, Cartagena, Bolivar, Colombia.
- The World Medicine and Health Games, often regarded as the Olympic Games for Health Professionals, has evolved into the most prestigious global sporting event within the medical community.
- With a legacy dating back to 1978, the Games annually attract over 2,500 participants from more than 50 different nations.
- These healthcare professionals engage in approximately twenty sports disciplines, both individually and collectively, all while upholding the core values of Olympism.