National
Seventh 250 Men Ferry Craft, “MANJULA” (YARD 786)
⇒ Ferry Craft ‘Manjula’ (Yard 786) was launched by Shri Binod Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary Transport, West Bengal on 23 November 2022 at M/s Shalimar Works Ltd, Kolkata, West Bengal.
With all major and auxiliary equipment/ systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers, this Ferry Craft is proud flag bearer of “Make in India” initiative of Ministry of Defence.
Key Points:
- Contract for construction and delivery of seven 250 Men Ferry Craft was concluded with M/s Shalimar Works Ltd, Kolkata in consonance with “AatmaNirbhar Bharat” initiatives of the government of India.
- Six out of Seven Ferry Craft have already been delivered at Port Blair, Visakhapatnam and Mumbai.
- These Ferry Craft are being built with a service life of 25 years. The Ferry Craft will provide impetus to operational and logistics requirements of Indian Navy.
Continuous Marine Water Quality Monitoring Station at JNPA
⇒ Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, India’s best-performing Port, in association with the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras, developed a Continuous Marine Water Quality Monitoring Station (CMWQMS) and launched an Electric Environmental Monitoring Vehicle on 21 November 2022 at the Port.
The monitoring station and vehicle were inaugurated by Shri Sanjay Sethi, IAS, Chairman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), in the presence of others officials.
Key Points:
- The Continuous water quality system and electric monitoring vehicle will assist in managing the marine water and air quality in the port area, regulating the environmental quality within the port area.
- Through this, JNPA will be able to reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of vehicles, in addition to checking compliance with Environmental Quality around the port estate through water quality stations data.
- Water quality stations data, such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, conductivity, nitrate, salinity, turbidity, and TDS of marine water a database on marine water quality is essential for maintaining hygienic standards in the marine environment.
- Electric Environmental Monitoring Vehicle will help achieve leadership in sustainability. The E- Vehicle also substantiates the ongoing ambient air and noise monitoring activities at JNPA.
International
President of Kazakhstan
⇒ President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev has been sworn in as the President of Kazakhstan at an inauguration ceremony held in the capital city of Astana.
Election:
- The 2022 Kazakh presidential election was the 17th presidential election held in Kazakhstan on 20 November 2022.
- Incumbent Independent, President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev was re-elected for a second term. He defeated Jiguli Dairabaev of the Auyl Party, receiving 81% of the vote.
Australian parliament approves free trade agreement with India
⇒ Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal addressed a press conference on the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) following the approval of the Agreement by the Australian Parliament on 22 November 2022.
» Union Minister said that duties on 100 percent tariff lines would be eliminated by Australia under the landmark India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA).
- Shri Goyal said that the ECTA would give a big boost to several sectors of the economy, especially textiles, gems and jewellery and pharmaceuticals. Annual Visa quota of 1800 is to be instituted for India Yoga teachers and Chefs.
IndAus ECTA which was signed on 2 April 2022, is now ready for ratification for its early implementation, with the Ind-Aus ECTA Bill and the DTAA amendment bill being passed by the Australian Parliament on 22 November 2022.
Key Points:
» Australia is an important strategic partner of India and both the democracies are part of the four nation QUAD, Trilateral Supply Chain Initiative and the Indo-Pacific Economic Forum (IPEF).
- The trade relationship facilitated through ECTA will open a new chapter on India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership between two vibrant economies with shared interest and trade complementarities.
- ECTA is the first trade agreement of India with a developed country after more than a decade.
- The Agreement encompasses cooperation across the entire gamut of bilateral economic and commercial relations between the two friendly countries.
- This will also connect with more than seven lakhs of Australia’s Indian diaspora, second highest taxpaying diaspora, which makes a significant contribution to Australia’s society and economy.
» ECTA provides for an institutional mechanism to encourage and improve trade between the two countries.
- For the first time, decisions completely based on extensive stakeholder consultations with every industry, Ministries, trade associations etc unlike the previous FTAs was undertaken.
- It is expected that with this agreement, the total bilateral trade will cross US$ 45-50 bn in 5 years from existing US$ 31 bn.
- India’s Merchandise Exports is likely to increase by 10 billion by 2026-27.
- Moreover, since the labour-intensive sectors will be benefitted, it is expected to create an additional employment of atleast 10 lakhs jobs in India, create ample opportunities for investment, promotion of start-ups.
- Around 96% of Australia’s exports are raw materials and intermediate products which will allow many Indian industries to get cheaper raw materials and make them competitive.
» As regards trade in services, Australia has offered wide ranging commitments in around 135 sub sectors. which cover key areas of India’s interest like IT, ITES, Business services, Health, Education, and Audio visual.
- Some of the key offers from Australia in the services space include: Quota for chefs and yoga teachers; Post study work visa of 2-4 years for Indian students on reciprocal basis; mutual recognition of Professional Services and Other licensed/regulated Occupations; and Work & Holiday visa arrangement for young professionals.
» Moreover, the long pending issue under Double taxation related to IT/ITES has been resolved under this Agreement which will provide a financial savings of more than US$ 200 million per year as per the estimates received from the Industry Associations.
Important Day
33rd Foundation Day of NIOS
⇒ The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) celebrated its 33rd Foundation Day on November 23, 2022.
» Union Minister of State for Education, Dr. Subhas Sarkar addressed the 33rd Foundation Day Celebrations of NIOS as the Chief Guest.
- On this occasion, the Half-yearly magazine of NIOS ‘Pragyan’ was released by Dr. Subhas Sarkar.
About NIOS:
- The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) formerly known as National Open School (NOS) was established in November,1989 as an autonomous organisation in pursuance of National Policy on Education 1986 by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Government of India.
- NIOS is providing a number of Vocational, Life Enrichment and community-oriented courses besides General and Academic Courses at Secondary and Senior Secondary level.
- It also offers Elementary level Courses through its Open Basic Education Programmes (OBE).