National
India's first Aqueduct in Madhya Pradesh
⇒ Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated 7 National Highway projects worth Rs 2,444 crore with total length of 204 km in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, on 10 December 2022.
Shri Nitin Gadkari also inaugurated Madhya Pradesh’s first Rs 1600 crore 6-lane twin tunnel of 2.28 km length and 13 km 4-lane bypass in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
About Twin Tunnel:
- This twin tunnel made of NATM method meets each other in 300 meters, due to which there will be no hindrance in traffic.
- Due to the curved turn in the Mohania valley, there was a possibility of accident with long time taken by vehicles, which has ended with the construction of this tunnel.
- State-of-the-art facilities like exhaust fan, Optical Fiber Linear IT Detection System, fire system, control room, cameras, phone facility at 200 meters have been provided in the tunnel.
- This is India’s first Aqueduct, which has tunnel below and Bansagar Canal above and the earlier road above it is also built.
- A big and a small bridge, a ROB, an overpass, an underpass, 4 canal crossings, 11 box culverts and 20 culverts have been constructed in this tunnel.
» Addressing the gathering Shri Gadkari said with the construction of Churhat tunnel and bypass, the length between Rewa to Sidhi has decreased by 7 km. Now instead of two and a half hours, we will be able to cover this distance in 45 minutes. Also, it will take only 4 minutes to cross Mohania Ghat instead of 45 minutes.
- The Minister said movement of vehicles in the Rewa-Sidhi section will be facilitated by the construction of the tunnel and white tigers, other wild animals and the entire forest ecosystem will be protected.
National Conclave on Accelerating Energy Efficiency in MSMEs
⇒ Bureau of Energy Efficiency, under Ministry of Power organised the “National Conclave on Accelerating Energy Efficiency in MSMEs” on 09 December 2022.
» During the inaugural session, the success story of the GEF-UNIDO-BEE Project was showcased, followed by the release of policy focussed draft energy efficiency roadmaps for 7 energy-intensive MSME sectors.
» Ministers of State Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar and Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma launched the Unified navigation tool on energy efficiency (UNNATEE tool) for faster adoption of energy efficiency projects in MSME sectors.
- UNNATEE tool is jointly developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
- It is a voluntary market-based mechanism based on the Draft concept note on Perform, Achieve and Earn (PAE) Scheme for consultation with MSMEs.
Other highlights of the conclave included a technology exhibition, Sessions on thought-provoking deliberations with decision-makers and other key actors in the MSME sector around policy integration, financing, and innovative & disruptive technologies.
Key Points:
- The conclave was graced by the participation of more than 200 participants comprising of Government, multilateral/bilateral agencies, industries, industrial associations, technology providers, and consultants among others.
- Various cluster associations, MSME entrepreneurs and stakeholders discussed and gave inputs for successful implementation of energy efficiency programs in the MSME sector.
- The National Conclave contributed to strengthening the operationalization and implementation of the current portfolio as well as a future program to scale up towards an inclusive and sustainable approach to energy efficiency in MSMEs.
- The National Conclave acted as a common platform for pooling knowledge and synergizing the efforts made by the projects to various stakeholders, deliberating on strategies and a roadmap to promote energy efficiency in the MSME sector.
- The conclave strengthened the industrial basis and support BEE’s endeavours of improving the energy efficiency of SMEs.
- The conclave acted as a bridge to build a sustainable strategy across sectors and distinguished stakeholders.
Background:
- The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is executing a Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded national project titled “Promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy in selected MSME clusters in India”.
- Initiated in 2011, the project aimed to develop and promote a market environment for introducing energy efficiency (EE) and enhanced use of renewable energy (RE) technologies in process applications in selected energy-intensive micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sectors.
- The project has been supported by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
- The project has implemented its programmatic intervention in 26 clusters in five different energy.
- India hosts second largest base for MSMEs in the world and has the largest contribution to the GDP.
- The BEE- SME program aims at improving the energy efficiency of the MSME sector in India through accelerating the adoption of energy-efficient technologies, knowledge sharing, capacity building, and development of financial of innovative financial mechanisms.
Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt unveils a bust of India’s first CDS late Gen Bipin Rawat
⇒ To commemorate the first death anniversary of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his bust was unveiled by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt at United Service Institution of India (USI) in New Delhi on December 10, 2022.
» The Armed Forces and the USI have taken the initiative to institute a Chair of Excellence and a Memorial Lecture in the memory of General Bipin Rawat at the Institution.
» During his illustrious service, India’s first CDS was conferred with PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM and Padma Vibhushan (posthumously).
- He was a visionary leader and a scholar soldier, known for his professionalism, principles, conviction and decisiveness.
Important Day
Human Rights Day 2022
⇒ Human Rights Day is celebrated across the world on 10 December every year.
Human Rights Day is celebrated to create awareness and mobilize political will to promote respect for the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Theme:
The theme of Human Rights Day 2022 was “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”.
Background:
- Human Rights Day is the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948.
- The UDHR is a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
- The UDHR consists of a preamble and 30 articles that set out a broad range of fundamental human rights and freedoms to which all of us, everywhere around the world, are entitled.
- It guarantees our rights without distinction of nationality, place of residence, gender, national or ethnic origin, religion, language, or any other status.
- The formal inception of Human Rights Day dates from 1950, after the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V) inviting all States and interested organizations to adopt 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.
» The 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be celebrated on 10 December 2023.
Swahid Diwas in India
⇒ Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of the historic Assam Movement in a solemn programme in Goa on 10 December 2022, marking Swahid Diwas.
» Swahid Diwas is observed every year on 10 December to commemorate the martyrdom day of Khargeswar Talukdar, the first martyr of the Assam Movement in 1979.
» The programme held at Francisco Luis Gomes Garden in Panjim was organised by the Assam Society of Goa and was attended by members of the Assamese community and a host of dignitaries and locals.
- Speaking on the occasion, the Minister reminisced the valour of the martyrs of the six year-long Assam Movement from 1979-1985.