National
28th Controller General of Accounts (CGA)
⇒ Shri S.S. Dubey took charge as the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) on 06 March 2023. Shri Dubey is the 28th Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Shri Dubey, a 1989-batch Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) officer, is appointed by the Government of India as the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) with effect from 6th March, 2023.
About Shri Dubey:
- Prior to taking charge as the CGA, Shri Dubey was Additional Controller General of Accounts, Public Financial Management System (PFMS). He also served as Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer in Bank Note Press, Dewas.
- Besides, serving Government of India, Shri Dubey also has international experience of five years in United Nations, where he worked as Head of Procurement and Logistics, United Nations World Food Programme, New Delhi.
About CGA:
- Controller General of Accounts (CGA) is ‘the Principal Advisor’ on Accounting matters to the Union Government.
- CGA is responsible for establishing and managing a technically sound Management Accounting System and preparation & submission of the accounts of the Union Government. CGA is also responsible for exchequer control and conduct of internal audits for the Central Government.
1st Naval Commanders' Conference 2023
⇒ The first edition of the Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2023 was commenced on 06 March 2023.
The conference serves as a platform for Naval Commanders to discuss important security issues at the military-strategic level as well as interact with Senior Government functionaries through an institutionalised forum.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh addressed the Naval Commanders onboard INS Vikrant on the conference’s opening day.
- Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh reviewed the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy during the Naval Commanders’ Conference, 2023.
- He interacted with the Naval Commanders and witnessed the operational demonstrations at sea, highlighting the Navy’s capability to undertake multi-dimensional missions towards safeguarding the maritime interests of the country.
Key Points:
- The novelty of this year’s conference lies in the fact that the first phase of the Commanders’ Conference was held at sea, and for the first-time, onboard India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.
- The Chief of Defence Staff and the Chiefs of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force also interacted with the Naval Commanders on subsequent days. They discussed convergence of the three Services vis-à-vis common operational environment, and avenues of augmenting Tri-Service synergy and readiness towards the defence of the nation and India’s national interests.
- An operational demonstration at sea was conducted as part of the activities on Day 1.
- The Chief of the Naval Staff, along with other Naval Commanders reviewed major Operational, Materiel, Logistics, Human Resource Development, Training and Administrative activities undertaken by the Indian Navy in the last six months and further deliberated upon future plans for important activities and initiatives.
» During the conference, Naval Commanders also provided an update on ‘Agnipath Scheme’ executed in the Indian Navy in November 2022.
- The first batch of Agniveers, including the first batch of women Agniveers of the Indian Armed Forces, has passed out from INS Chilka in March 2023.
Due to the prevailing geostrategic situation in the region, the Conference has its own significance and relevance. The Navy has witnessed significant growth in its operational tasking over the years in consonance with India’s growing maritime interests.
International
International Maritime Exercise/Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-23)
⇒ INS Trikand participated in the International Maritime Exercise/Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-23) held in the Gulf region from 26 February to 16 March 2023.
- IMX/CE-23 is one of the largest multinational maritime exercises in the world.
INS Trikand participated in Sea Phase-I of the exercise held in the Gulf from 05 to 09 March 2023.
» During the period, the ship exercised with naval units of Bahrain, Japan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK and USA with the common aim of enhancing maritime security, keeping shipping lanes open and ensuring safety of navigation.
- She conducted the exercise with participants from over 50 nations and international maritime agencies with the common aim of enhancing maritime security and keeping sea lanes in the region safe for maritime commerce.
About INS Trikand:
- INS Trikand is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet and operates under the Western Naval Command headquartered at Mumbai.
- She is a modern warship with advanced technologies to make her stealthy, fast and formidable. With long reach and a state-of-the-art combat suite, the ship is designed to undertake a wide spectrum of naval operations.
Other Points:
- While this was Indian Navy’s maiden IMX participation, it also marked the second occasion where an Indian Naval ship participated in an exercise conducted by the CMF. Earlier, in November 2022, INS Trikand had participated in the CMF led Operation Sea Sword 2.
- Participation in exercises like Sea Sword 2 and IMX/CE-23 enables the Indian Navy in strengthening relationships and enhancing interoperability and collective maritime capability with maritime partners in the IOR. It also enables the Navy contribute constructively to regional stability and security.
Sports
World Table Tennis Star Contender Goa 2023
⇒ Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur attended the closing ceremony of the World Table Tennis Star (WTT) Contender Goa 2023 Tournament in Panaji.
- The Minister also presented the award for the Women’s Singles Champion to Wang Yidi. Hailing from China and ranked number 4 in global rankings, Wang Yidi defeated Cheng I-Ching in the finals by a score of 4-0.
- Liang Jingkun, the world No 7, beat 17-year-old compatriot Lin Shidong 4-2 in the men’s singles title.
» Panaji, the capital of Goa, hosted India’s first-ever World Table Tennis (WTT) series event.
The WTT Star Contender Goa 2023 tournament was held from February 27 to March 5, 2023, at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, located in the Goa University campus situated in the southern Taleigao neighbourhood.
WTT Star Contender Goa 2023 Table Tennis Winners:
- Men’s singles: Liang Jingkun (China)
- Women’s singles: Wang Yidi (China)
- Men’s doubles: An Jaehyun and Cho Seungmin (South Korea)
- Women’s doubles: Miyu Nagasaki and Miwa Harimoto (Japan)
- Mixed doubles: Jang Woojin and Jeon Jihee (South Korea)