National
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023
⇒ Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on September 19, 2023 introduced a Bill to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.
» The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed by Parliament and received the assent of the President on 28th September, 2023.
Also Known as ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ (Women’s Reservation Bill) 2023, it was passed by the parliament during the Special Parliament Session held in September 2023. The ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ is the first bill to be tabled in the new Parliament building.
- After the assent of the President of India, this Bill may be called the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023.
- It is an Act further to amend the Constitution of India.
About Bill:
- This Amendment Bill provides for allotment of 33 percent seats in the directly elected Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women.
- The Bill defines the 33% women reservation to continue for 15 years.
- Additionally, this Bill mandates that there be a quota for SCs and STs within the seats reserved for women in the Parliament and Legislative Assembly.
Related Articles:
» Amendment of article 239AA
- Reservation of seats for women in the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
» Insertion of new article 330A
- Reservation of seats for women in the House of the People.
» Insertion of new article 332A
- Reservation of seats for women in the Legislative Assemblies of the States.
» Insertion of new article 334A
- Reservation of seats for women take effect.
Other Points:
- The reservation will come into effect after a delimitation exercise is undertaken and will continue for 15 years.
- Seats reserved for women will be rotated after each delimitation exercise.
- As per existing law, the next delimitation exercise can only be conducted after the first census to be taken post 2026. This effectively means that the bill cannot become law until at least 2027.
International
30th Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise 2023 (SIMBEX-2023)
⇒ Indian Naval Ships Ranvijay (guided-missile Destroyer), Kavaratti (ASW Corvette), submarine INS Sindhukesari and a long-range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I participated in the 30th edition of Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) in Singapore.
- The three-decade-old annual exercise kicked off with an opening ceremony on 21 September 2023, which was attended by personnel from both the navies.
» SIMBEX-2023 was conducted in two phases – the Harbour Phase in Singapore from 21 to 24 September 2023, followed by the Sea Phase from 25 to 28 September 2023.
Harbour Phase of SIMBEX 23:
- The Harbour Phase witnessed a wide range of professional interactions, cross-deck visits, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE) and sports fixtures, aimed at enhancing interoperability and mutual understanding between the two navies.
- Additionally, the Harbour Phase witnessed conduct of combined aviation and firefighting/ damage control exercises, and the signing of a Joint Standard Operating Procedure on Submarine Rescue between India and Singapore in presence of the High Commissioner of India to Singapore and the Singapore Navy Fleet Commander.
Sea Phase of SIMBEX 23:
- During the Sea Phase, units of Indian Navy along with RSS Stalwart, Valour, Tenacious, a submarine, Maritime Patrol Aircraft Fokker F-50 and fighter aircraft engaged in complex maritime security exercises.
- It involved complex and advanced surface and air defence exercises, gunnery firings, tactical manoeuvres, anti-submarine exercises and other maritime operations.
- Units of both the navies endeavoured to hone their war-fighting skills while consolidating their capability to undertake multi-discipline operations jointly in the maritime domain.
» SIMBEX 23 ended on a high note reaffirming the close bonds of friendship and interoperability between the two maritime nations.
Background:
- The Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) is an annual bilateral Naval exercise between the Indian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), which has been conducted since 1994.
- SIMBEX holds the distinction of being the longest continuous naval exercise that Indian Navy has with any other country.
8th Eastern Economic Forum, 2023
⇒ The 8th Eastern Economic Forum 2023 took place on 10–13 September 2023 in Vladivostok on the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) campus.
Organizer:
The organizer of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) was the Roscongress Foundation.
Theme:
The main theme for Eastern Economic Forum 2023 was ‘The Path to Partnership, Peace and Prosperity’.
The Forum business programme was designed around six thematic blocks:
- International cooperation in a changed world
- The logistics of change
- The Far East over the past decade: what has been a success and what remains to be done?
- Technological development as a guarantee of sovereignty
- The Far East of the future
- Education and upbringing as the foundation of independence
Key Points:
- The largest delegations came from China, India, Myanmar, the Philippines, Laos, and Mongolia.
- The Eastern Economic Forum served as a platform for negotiations between representatives of business circles from Russia and Asia-Pacific countries.
- Participants in the Russia–ASEAN, Russia–India, Russia–China, Russia–Mongolia, and Russia–Philippines business dialogues discussed the development of cooperation and the implementation of joint projects.
» Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal represented India at the Eastern Economic Forum 2023, which was held at the Russian port city of Vladivostok.
- The Union Minister met the Russian Minister with an objective to maintain strong ties and foster strategic, trade and logistical cooperation across various sectors.
About Eastern Economic Forum:
- The Eastern Economic Forum is a key international platform for establishing and strengthening ties within the Russian and global investment communities, and for comprehensive expert evaluation of the economic potential of the Russian Far East, the investment opportunities it offers, and business conditions within advanced special economic zones.
- The Eastern Economic Forum was established by decree of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in 2015 to support the economic development of Russia’s Far East and to expand international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
9th Eastern Economic Forum:
The 9th Eastern Economic Forum will be held in Vladivostok on 3–6 September 2024 on the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University.
Important Day
43rd Annual Day of Air Force Association (AFA)
⇒ The Air Force Association (AFA) celebrated its 43rd Annual Day on 20 September 2023.
About Air Force Association:
- Air Force Association is a welfare organisation in the non-governmental sector, actively involved in the welfare of air veterans and their families.
- The Association is also deeply committed in alleviating the sufferings of widows and destitute children.
- The Association was established on 15 Sep 1980 under the patronage of Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh DFC.
- It has twenty branches spread all over the country. In addition, it has two branches in UK and Australia. It has nearly 92141 Air Veteran members and 6190 Spouse members.