National
42nd India International Trade Fair (IITF)– 2023
⇒ The 42nd India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2023 was held from 14 to 27 November 2023 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
- The first five days of IITF 2023, from November 14 to 18, were exclusively reserved for business days, with November 19 to 27 being open to the general public.
Organized by:
The 42 edition of India International Trade Fair (IITF 2023) an annual magnum opus of India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) was held in newly built halls of International Exhibition cum Convention Centre as well as in the existing halls at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
Theme:
The theme of IITF 2023 was “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: United by Trade”.
Partner State: Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala
Focus State: Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir
Some Award Winners at IITF 2023:
- The Ministry of Ayush has been awarded the Gold Medal by the ‘India Trade Promotion Organization’ for its excellent performance in the ‘Ministries and Departments’ category of the Indian International Trade Fair 2023.
- The Odisha Pavilion has won the prestigious gold medal at the India International Trade Fair (IITF)-2023. Showcasing the spirit of ‘Unity through Trade’, the Odisha Pavilion highlighted the State’s commitment to women empowerment & their participation in economic prosperity and exhibited a wide range of tribal art, artefacts & products.
- The Ministry of Power, Government of India has been awarded the Special Appreciation Medal for Excellence in Display, at India International Trade Fair 2023. The Ministry received the award for the Power Pavilion set up by it at 42nd edition of the IITF. The Pavilion was set up under the umbrella of the Ministry of Power, with NTPC as the nodal agency and with contribution from 11 other PSUs under the Ministry.
- The Khadi Pavilion was also awarded with the Special Commendation Medal Award by the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO).
About IITF:
- IITF, with both B2B and B2C components, is one of the largest integrated trade fairs in the South Asian region.
- The format of IITF incorporates business, social, cultural, and educational dimensions, bringing together visitors, exhibitors, media persons, marketing professionals, social activists, NGOs, etc., all converging to explore their objectives.
- Domestic as well as overseas buyers source their needs.
- A number of Government Organisations use this platform to spread awareness about their programmes and policies among the public. As such, almost all States and Union Territories of Federal Government of India participate in this mega event.
Prime Minister launches PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM- JANMAN)
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the program marking the celebrations of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, 2023 in Khunti, Jharkhand on 15 November 2023.
- During the programme, the Prime Minister launched ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ and Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Development Mission.
- He also released the 15th installment of PM-KISAN.
- Shri Modi also laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects in Jharkhand worth Rs 7200 crores in multiple sectors like rail, road, Education, Coal, Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra:
» It has been the constant endeavor of the Prime Minister to attain saturation of flagship schemes of the government by ensuring that the benefits of these schemes reach all targeted beneficiaries in a time-bound manner.
» In a major step towards the attainment of this aim of saturation of schemes, the Prime Minister launched ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas.
- The main objective behind the yatra was to attain saturation of flagship schemes of the government by ensuring that the benefits of these schemes reach all targeted beneficiaries in a time-bound manner.
- In tribal areas, 5 area of focus were Sickle Cell testing, awareness and enrolment in Eklavya Model Residential Schools and Scholarship Schemes.
- The focus of the Yatra was on reaching out to people, creating awareness and providing benefits of welfare schemes like sanitation facilities, essential financial services, electricity connections, access to LPG cylinders, housing for the poor, food security, proper nutrition, reliable healthcare, clean drinking water, etc.
- Enrolment of potential beneficiaries was done through details ascertained during the Yatra.
- The Prime Minister flagged off IEC (Information, Education and Communication) vans in Khunti, Jharkhand, marking the launch of ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’.
- The Yatra initially started from districts with significant tribal population and covered all the districts across the country by 25 January 2024.
PM PVTG Mission:
» During the programme, the Prime Minister also launched the first of its kind initiative – ‘Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PM PVTG) Development Mission’. There are 75 PVTGs in 18 States & UTs living in 22,544 villages (220 districts) having a population of around 28 lakhs.
- The PM JANMAN (PM- Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan) is aimed at comprehensive development of 75 vulnerable tribal communities who continue to lag behind in socio economic indicators of educational, health and livelihood. Therefore, they called Particularly Vulnerable Tribal groups (PVTGs).
- Even after 75 years of independence various development schemes of Central and State Government have not been able to adequately address the critical infrastructure needs of the villages and habitations of these communities being located in remote areas and with sparse population.
- These tribes stay in scattered, remote & inaccessible habitations, often in forest areas and hence a mission with a budget of about Rs 24,000 crore is planned to saturate PVTG families and habitations with basic facilities such as road and telecom connectivity, electricity, safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
- In addition, separately, saturation will be ensured for PMJAY, Sickle Cell Disease Elimination, TB Elimination, 100% immunization, PM Surakshit Matritva Yojana, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, PM Poshan, PM Jan Dhan Yojana etc.
- The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi released the first instalment to 1 lakh beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY – G) under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) via video conferencing on 15 January 2024.
15th Installment of PM-KISAN:
» In a step that will showcase yet another example of the commitment of the Prime Minister towards the welfare of farmers, the 15th installment amount of about Rs 18,000 crores under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), was released through direct benefits transfer to more than 8 crore beneficiaries.
- The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is one of the world’s largest Direct Benefit Transfer schemes.
- A flagship scheme of the Government of India, it exemplifies the continued commitment of the Government of India to initiate policy actions for an inclusive and productive agricultural sector.
- It is a central sector scheme launched on 24th February 2019 to supplement the financial needs of all land-holding farmers subject to certain exclusion criteria of higher income status.
- Financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments, every four months, is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers’ families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
- Under the scheme, till now, more than Rs 2.62 lakh crores have been transferred to 11 crore farmers’ accounts in 14 installments.
Other development initiatives:
- The Prime Minister inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of projects worth around Rs. 7200 crores in multiple sectors like rail, road, Education, Coal, Petroleum and Natural Gas.
- The projects whose foundation stones were laid by the Prime Minister include four laning of 52 km stretch of Mahagama – Hansdiha section of NH133; four laning of 45 Km stretch of Basukinath – Deoghar section of NH114 A; KDH-Purnadih Coal Handling Plant; new academic and administrative building of IIIT Ranchi.
- The projects that will be inaugurated and dedicated to the nation include the new campus of IIM Ranchi; new Hostel of IIT ISM Dhanbad; Petroleum Oil and Lubricants (POL) depot in Bokaro; several railway projects viz doubling of Hatia-Pakra Section, Talgaria – Bokaro Section, and Jarangdih-Patratu section.
- Further, the achievement of 100% Railway Electrification in Jharkhand State was also dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister.
Important Day
Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas 2023
⇒ Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas is celebrated every year on 15 November to mark tribal pride.
- The ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ (Tribal Pride Day) is celebrated every year to recognize the efforts of the tribals in the preservation of cultural heritage and promotion of Indian values of national pride, valour, and hospitality.
History:
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 10th November 2021 approved declaration of November 15 as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas dedicated to the memory of brave tribal freedom fighters so that coming generations could know about their sacrifices about the country.
Foundation day of Jharkhand
⇒ Jharkhand celebrated its foundation day on 15 November.
History:
- The state was carved out of Bihar on November 15, 2000 after the Parliament passed the Bihar Reorganization Act, 2000.
- Chhotanagpur area was segregated from the southern half of Bihar to give rise to another state named Jharkhand. By doing so, the latter became the 28th Indian state.