National
Intelligent Tray Retrieval System (ITRS)
⇒ Union Minister for MSME, Shri Narayan Rane, inaugurated virtually Intelligent Tray Retrieval System (ITRS), Manufactured by M/s SJK Innovations Pvt Ltd, a MSME-Make in India Company at MOPA (GOA) International airport on 04 January 2023.
About ITRS:
- The ITRS is an Artificial Intelligence based fully automatic machine that helps in providing enhanced passenger security with advanced screening technology.
- The machine is equipped with image analysis software with advanced tools that makes it easy for the screener to take correct decisions against every baggage.
- This in turn helps the passenger to complete the screening much faster and easier when compared to the conventional machines.
- The machine also contains a dedicated module for the high threat baggage’s which needs immediate attention at the airport.
- The ITRS machine is one of its kind that gives passengers a unique travel experience during the hand baggage screening at the airport.
1st All India Annual States' Ministers Conference on "Water Vision@2047"
⇒ The 1st All India Annual States’ Ministers Conference on “Water Vision@2047” began on 05 January 2023 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- The two days conference began with the auspicious ‘Jal Kalash’ ceremony by the Chief Guest and Dignitaries. Ministers of Water Resources from all states attended the 1st All India Annual State Ministers’ Conference on Water.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the 1st All India Annual State Ministers’ Conference on Water via video message on 05 January 2023.
Organized by:
The Ministry of Jal Shakti organized the “1st All India Annual State Ministers Conference on Water’’ on 5th & 6th January, 2023.
Objective:
The objective of the conference was to deliberate on Water Vision for India for the next 25 years i.e., till 2047 as part of the larger plan of India@2047 as envisioned by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.
- The aim of the forum was to bring together key policymakers for debating and deliberating on ways to optimally utilise water resources for holistic economic and human development in a sustainable manner.
Theme:
The theme of the conference was ‘Water Vision @ 2047’.
With an objective to enhance the insights of this conference, there was one Plenary Session which set the agenda of the Conference with a focus on Water Vision@2047.
The Conference had 5 thematic sessions viz.-
- The 1st Thematic Session addresses the various aspects of “Water Security in Water Deficit, Water Surplus and Hilly Regions”.
- The 2nd Thematic Session is on “Water Use Efficiency including the Reuse of Waste Water/Grey Water” focusing to make the objective of community participation successful at grassroots level.
- The 3rd Thematic Session on “Water Governance” aims to break the silos in the water sector by bringing various states together facilitated by the Centre.
- The 4th Thematic Session on “Climate Change Resilient Water Infrastructure” addresses the present scenario of climate change in the country and the measures that need to be taken to reduce the effects of Climate Change.
- The 5th Session on “Water Quality” deals with the problems of water quality of drinking water, surface water, and groundwater.
Delivering the inaugural address, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan asserted that he planted 3 trees daily to lead by example and urged all to plant trees with him on 6th January, 2023 and it will be called Water Vision Garden.
» The dignitaries launched the National Framework on Reuse of Treated Waste Water, National Framework for Sedimentation Management, Best practices under Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain.
» Dignitaries inaugurated a sub-portal of ‘Jal Itihas’ under the WRIS portal as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav along with an exhibition.
International Conference on Food and Nutritional Security (iFANS-2023)
⇒ Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology; Minister of State (I/C) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated “National Genome Editing & Training Centre” at National Agri-food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) Mohali, Punjab on 05 January 2023.
- The Minister also, at the same time, inaugurated a 4-day ‘International Conference on Food and Nutritional Security-2023 (iFANS-2023)’ at NABI, Mohali.
About National Genome Editing & Training Centre (NGETC):
» NGETC is a one-roof state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a national platform to cater to the regional needs to adapt different genome editing methods, including CRISPR-Cas mediated genome modification.
- It will also empower young researchers by providing them with training and guidance about its know-how and application in crops.
- In the current climatic scenario, improving crops for better nutrition and tolerance to the changing environmental condition is a significant challenge.
- Genome editing could be a promising technology that Indian research could adapt to offer the desired tailor-made traits in crops.
- NABI has shown ability and can expand the genome editing tools to vast arrays of crops, including Banana, Rice, Wheat, Tomato, Maize and Millets.
About International Conference on Food and Nutritional Security (iFANS-2023):
Organized by:
The iFANS-2023 was jointly organized by the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Centre for Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB), National Institute of Plant Biotechnology (NIPB), and International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB).
Key Points:
- The 4-day conference brainstormed how genome editing could enhance the country’s food and nutritional security under changing climate in the country.
- The conference had multiple sessions with as many speakers from 15 different countries.
- They shared their experience through their contribution to plant sciences in the frontier areas of their research.
- The conference brought on new challenges and new ideas and also worked as a stage for fostering new research collaborations between laboratories in different countries.
- The conference brought together international experts and young researchers in the areas of agriculture, food, and nutrition biotechnology, and genome editing.
- The theme of the conference was pertinent to inspire young students and researchers considering the fact that food and nutrition security is a global demand.
- Advanced biotechnology tool such as genome editing using CRISPR-Cas9 has potential to achieve these goals in a sustainable manner.
- More than 500 participants from various parts of the country had registered for this conference.
- In addition, 80 speakers (40 international and 40 national) shared their scientific knowledge during these four days.
About NABI:
- NABI, under the Department of Biotechnology, is a national institute with a mandate focusing on research activities at the interface of Agriculture, Food and nutritional biotechnology.
- Genome editing is a crucial tool to cause site-specific gene mutations/changes so that important crop traits can be developed. These mutations have the potential to mimic nature-like mutations and could be target specific in the genome.
India International Jewellery Show (IIJS Signature 2023)
⇒ The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council organised the first design-centric jewellery show of the calendar year 2023 – India International Jewellery Show (IIJS Signature) and India Gem & Jewellery Machinery Expo (IGJME) at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. It was organised from 5th to 9th January 2023.
About IIJS Signature 2023:
- The 15th edition of IIJS Signature was spread across 65,000 sq ft.
- IIJS Signature accommodated more than 1,300 exhibitors spread over 2,400+ booths. IIJS Signature witnessed 32,000 visitors from 10,000 domestic companies attending the show.
- This year, IIJS Signature recorded number of 800 foreign visitors from 600 companies from 50 countries.
- Delegations came from 10 countries: U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Iran, Bangladesh, Nepal, UAE, Bahrain and Russia. For the first time a delegation came from Saudi Arabia with 18 prime buyers.
- The product sections at IIJS Signature 2023 include: Gold & Gold CZ Studded Jewellery; Diamond, Gemstone & Other Studded Jewellery; Silver Jewellery, Artefacts & Gifting Items; Loose Stones; Laboratories & Education; and Lab Grown Diamond (Loose & Jewellery)
- New features at IIJS Signature 2023 include: Innov8 Talks, with sessions on Experiential Marketing, Alternate Financing, etc.
About The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC):
- The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, set up by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India in 1966, is one of several Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) launched by the Indian Government, to boost the country’s export thrust, when India’s post-Independence economy began making forays in the international markets.
- Since 1998, the GJEPC has been granted autonomous status.
- The GJEPC is the apex body of the gems & jewellery industry and today represents 8500 members in the sector.
- With headquarters in Mumbai, GJEPC has Regional Offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Surat and Jaipur, all of which are major centres for the industry.