National
Bharat Gaurav Train “North East Discovery: Beyond Guwahati”
⇒ Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Government of India, flagged off Bharat Gaurav Train “North East Discovery: Beyond Guwahati”, specially designed tour to cover the North eastern states of India, from Delhi Safdarjung station on 21 March 2023.
Key Points:
- The train tour covered Guwahati, Sivasagar, Jorhat & Kaziranga in Assam, Unakoti, Agartala & Udaipur in Tripura, Dimapur & Kohima in Nagaland and Shillong & Cherapunji in Meghalaya in 15 days tour.
- The modern Deluxe AC Tourist Train has a host of amazing features including two fine dining restaurants, a contemporary kitchen, shower cubicles in coaches, sensor-based washroom functions, foot massager and a mini library.
- The fully air-conditioned train provides two types of accommodation viz AC I and AC II. The train has enhanced security features like CCTV cameras, electronic safes and dedicated security guards appointed for each coach.
» Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train launch is in line with the Government of India initiative “Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat” and “DekhoApnaDesh” to promote domestic tourism.
MoU signed between Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Brahma Kumaris Mount Abu
⇒ Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Brahma Kumaris Mount Abu at Dr B.R Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi on 04 March 2023.
- Department of Social Justice & Empowerment entered into an MoU with the Brahma Kumaris, Mount Abu for spreading the message of NMBA among the youth, women, students etc.
- With the signing of this MoU, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment feels that implementation of NMBA will get a boost towards achieving drug sensitized India.
National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction:
- To curb the menace of drug demand, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India has been implementing National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).
- This is an umbrella scheme under which financial assistance is provided to State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations for Preventive Education and Awareness Generation, Capacity Building, Skill development, vocational training and livelihood support of ex-drug addicts, Programme for Drug Demand Reduction.
- The Ministry has initiated ambitious Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) currently operational in 372 districts of the country with an aim to create awareness about ill effects of substance abuse among the youth, with special focus on higher education institutes, university campuses, schools etc.
International
IAF Participated in Exercise Desert Flag VIII
⇒ The Multilateral Air Exercise Desert Flag VIII was conducted from 27 February 2023 to 17 March 2023.
An Indian Air Force contingent comprising of 110 Air Warriors arrived at Al Dhafra airbase of United Arab Emirates for participating in Exercise Desert Flag VIII.
Indian Aircraft:
The IAF participated with five LCA Tejas and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. This was the first occasion when the LCA Tejas participated in an international flying exercise outside India.
Aim:
The aim of the exercise was to participate in diverse fighter engagements and learn from the best practices of various Air Forces.
» Exercise Desert Flag is a multilateral air exercise in which Air Forces from UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Republic of Korea, and USA also participated.
MoU between India and Mexico
⇒ India and Mexico on 04 March 2023 signed a Memorandum of Understanding on research, technology and innovation collaborations with focus on several key technology areas.
- These technology areas are like Aerospace, Electronics Instrumentation & Strategic Sectors; Civil, Infrastructure & Engineering; Ecology, Environment Earth & Ocean Sciences and Water; Mining, Minerals, Metals & Materials; Chemicals (including leather) and Petrochemicals; Energy (Conventional & Non-Conventional) and Energy Devices; Agri, Nutrition & Biotech and Healthcare.
The Multi-Sectoral Historic Agreement was signed in the August Presence of Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh and Foreign Minister of Mexico Marcelo Ebrard at the India Science Centre, Lodhi Road in presence of High-Level Delegations from both the sides.
» Terming India and Mexico as ‘Privileged Partners’, the Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said, the two countries can complement and supplement each other in many areas and we are on right course.
- He pointed out that CSIR and Mexican Agencies through this MoU could contribute effectively to the global society through Research and Innovation Partnerships for technology development, upscaling of each other’s Intellectual Property for commercialization and Research Infrastructure Development & Sharing.
- He said, in addition to regular research & development, capacity building & training and participation in Knowledge dissemination activities, a special focus on Technology and Industry collaboration has been structured in the MoU.
Sports
7th Boccia National Championship
⇒ The 7th Boccia National Championship was conducted from 28 February to 04 March 2023 at the Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre, Delhi Cantonment.
The Boccia National Championship under the aegis of Headquarter Delhi Area has been a landmark event for the Army as it opens new avenues of participation in Boccia Sports for Indian Army’s serving soldiers and veterans.
About Boccia:
» As a sport, Boccia is predominantly played by athletes with cerebral palsy but has now expanded to include athletes with other disabilities that affect players motor skills.
- The sport is played with a ball. All athletes are required to be seated when releasing the ball and most play from a wheelchair. Athletes can throw, kick, or even use a ramp to get the ball where one wants it to go. At Paralympic level, Boccia is one of only two sports which do not have an Olympic counterpart.
- Indian Army has taken lead in promoting Boccia. Towards that end, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between Mission Olympics Wing of the Indian Army and Paralympics Committee of India for promoting Paralympics movement in the country and providing a platform for transition of specially abled Indian Army Soldiers into para-athletes.
7th Boccia National Championship:
» As part of this unique initiative, the Indian Army, through Headquarter Delhi Area and Mission Olympics Wing, extended full support in coordinating and conducting the event.
- The Indian Army also fielded a six members veteran team from the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, Kirkee (Pune) in the National Championship.
- Prior to commencement of the championship, all participants were classified into categories commensurate to their disability.
- Approximately seventy-wheel chair bound para-athletes from 21 states participated in the championship.
- Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding Delhi Area was the Chief Guest for the closing and prize distribution ceremony organised on 04 March 2023.
- The winners of the event participated in the Asian Boccia Regional Championship in Hong Kong in May 2023.
- The Gold Medalist from the Hong Kong event will directly get a berth in the Para Olympics in the Paris in September 2024.