National
Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav 2023
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the closing ceremony of Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav 2023 at Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on 23 September 2023.
- Shri Modi also launched the portal for the registration of Kashi Sansad Khel Pratiyogita. He also handed over the prizes to the winners of Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav.
Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav:
» The Prime Minister’s vision to strengthen the cultural vibrancy of Kashi has led to the conceptualization of Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav.
- Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav 2023 was organized by the District Administration Varanasi from 1 September to 24 September 2023.
- The Mahotsav witnessed the participation of more than 37,000 persons across 17 disciplines who displayed their skills in singing, instrumental playing, nukkad natak, dancing etc.
- The meritorious participants showcased their cultural skills during the programme at Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister inaugurated 16 Atal Awasiya Vidyalayas built across Uttar Pradesh at a cost of about Rs 1115 crores.
- With an aim to further enhance access to quality education, 16 Atal Awasiya Vidyalaya have been started exclusively for children of labourers, construction workers and orphans affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic with an aim to provide quality education and help in holistic development of children.
- Each school is constructed in an area of 10-15 acres with classrooms, sports ground, recreational areas, a mini auditorium, hostel complex, mess and residential flats for staff.
- These residential schools intend to eventually accommodate 1,000 students each.
Nine Vande Bharat trains
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi flagged off nine Vande Bharat trains on 24 September 2023 via video conferencing.
The Prime Minister informed that 25 Vande Bharat trains are serving people in different states and union territories. 9 more Vande Bharat are being added to that today and, he said “day is not far when Vande Bharat will connect every part of the country”.
These new Vande Bharat trains are a step towards realising Prime Minister’s vision of improving connectivity across the country and providing world class facilities to rail passengers.
The new trains that were flagged off are:
- Udaipur – Jaipur Vande Bharat Express
- Tirunelveli-Madurai- Chennai Vande Bharat Express
- Hyderabad –Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express
- Vijayawada – Chennai (via Renigunta) Vande Bharat Express
- Patna – Howrah Vande Bharat Express
- Kasaragod – Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express
- Rourkela – Bhubaneswar – Puri Vande Bharat Express
- Ranchi – Howrah Vande Bharat Express
- Jamnagar-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express
These nine trains will boost connectivity across eleven states namely Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Jharkhand and Gujarat.
‘International Lawyers’ Conference 2023
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘International Lawyers’ Conference 2023’ at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on 23 September 2023.
- This conference was organized for the first time in the country
Organized by:
International Lawyer’s Conference 2023 was organized by the Bar Council of India on 23rd – 24th September, 2023.
Theme:
The theme of the International Lawyer’s Conference 2023 was ‘Emerging Challenges in Justice Delivery System’.
Aim:
The aim of the conference was to serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue and discussion on various legal topics of national and international importance, foster exchange of ideas and experiences, and strengthen international cooperation and understanding of legal issues.
Discussion:
- Emerging legal trends, challenges in cross-border litigation, legal technology, environmental law etc. were discussed during the conference.
- The programme witnessed the participation of distinguished judges, legal professionals, and leaders of the global legal fraternity.
International
ADMM Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise 2023
⇒ Indian Army Contingent consisting of 32 personnel from a Battalion affiliated to the RAJPUTANA RIFLES participated in the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus Expert Working Group (EWG) on Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise (FTX) 2023.
- The Exercise was conducted from 25th to 30th September 2023 in Russia.
- This year ASEAN member states along with Plus Group also participated in the exercise.
Key Points:
- It is a multinational joint military exercise was hosted by Russia as a co-chair of the EWG along with Myanmar.
- It was preceded by Table Top Exercise of the ADMM Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from 2nd to 4th August 2023.
- The exercise comprised of a number of counter terrorism drills including destroying of terrorist groups in a fortified area. The main objective of the exercise was to strengthen and promote regional cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism.
- ADMM Plus EWG on Counter-terrorism 2023 provided Indian Army with a platform to share their expertise and best practices in counter-terrorism operations besides increasing cooperation between other 12 participating countries. Indian Army enriched professional experience from the exercise.
Background:
- Since 2017, the ADMM Plus meets annually to allow dialogue and cooperation among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Plus countries.
- The inaugural ADMM Plus was convened in Ha Noi, Vietnam on 12th October 2010.