National
Army Medical Corps Officer Col Sunita becomes the first woman to command the largest blood transfusion centre of the Armed Forces
⇒ An Army Medical Corps Officer Col Sunita BS scripted history on November 21, 2023, by becoming the first woman to assume the role of Commanding Officer at Armed Forces Transfusion Centre, Delhi Cantt.
- Prior to this, she served in the challenging role of Commanding officer at a strategically important Field Hospital in Arunachal Pradesh, where she provided the best possible Combat Medical Support.
Key Points:
- Currently, the officer is given the responsibility of managing AFTC, the largest blood transfusion centre of the Armed Forces.
- AFTC has state-of-the-art facilities in the field of Transfusion Medicine including Stem Cell cryopreservation, fully automated immune-hematology analyzers, gamma irradiation chambers, and Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) capabilities.
- AFTC is the first and the only licensed centre in the country to hold a Frozen Red Cell facility.
» Her unique blend of academic, administrative, and professional skills is crucial for her current role.
Delivery of Missile Cum Ammunition Barge, LSAM 9 (Yard 77)
⇒ The delivery of ‘Missile Cum Ammunition Barge, LSAM 9 (Yard 77)’ was undertaken on 22 November 2023 at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai for INS Tunir.
‘Missile Cum Ammunition Barge, LSAM 9 (Yard 77)’ is the third Barge of 08 x Missile Cum Ammunition Barge project, built by MSME Shipyard, M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd, Visakhapatnam for the Indian Navy.
- The induction ceremony was presided over by Cmde Ashish Sehgal Command Refit Officer, Western Naval Command.
Key Points:
- The contract for building 08 x Missile Cum Ammunition Barge was signed between MoD and M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd, Visakhapatnam on 19 Feb 21.
- Induction of these Barges would provide impetus to operational commitments of IN by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles/ ammunition to IN Ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours.
- These Barges are indigenously designed and built under relevant Naval Rules and Regulations of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
- The model testing of the Barge during design stage was undertaken at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam.
AGNI – ‘Ayurveda Gyan Naipunya Initiative’ - A CCRAS, (Ministry of Ayush) Initiative
⇒ Central Council for Research in Ayurveda Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, in its new endeavour to promote research for mainstreaming the pragmatic Ayurveda practices through scientific validation and evidence-based appraisal, has launched AGNI for physicians practicing in the field of Ayurveda.
Objectives:
- CCRAS will document and publish the reported medical practices and therapeutic regimens for education and academic purposes in consultation with NCISM (National Commission for Indian System of Medicine).
- AGNI aims to provide a platform to Ayurveda practitioners for reporting their innovative practices & and experiences in various disease conditions.
- To promote the culture of reporting evidence-based practice among Ayurveda Practitioners.
- To document the reported successful therapeutic regimens for various disease conditions involving Single drug/ Formulation/ Procedures for the purpose of education and academics.
- To identify the interested Ayurveda practitioners for collaboration in the creation of a database through applications and capacity building through training in research methods and good clinical practices.
- To undertake research for mainstreaming pragmatic practices through scientific validation and evidence-based appraisal.
Key Points:
- Interested qualified Ayurveda Practitioners sent the Expression of Interest by 15th December, 2023.
- The selected proposals called for a brainstorming session, and closed group meeting with experts, in phase wise manner, held in the month of January/ February, 2024 for sharing their experiences and success stories.
- Each participant was awarded a certificate of appreciation. Selected proposals were processed for Research/Academic purposes.
International
2nd Joint Military Exercise “AUSTRAHIND-23”
⇒ The second edition of Joint Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND-23 was conducted at Perth, Australia from 22nd November to 06th December 2023.
Participation:
- The Indian Armed Forces contingent comprised 81 personnel. Indian Army contingent comprised 60 personnel from a Battalion of the GORKHA Rifles. One officer from Indian Navy and 20 personnel from Indian Air Force also participated from the Indian side.
- The Australian Army contingent comprised 60 personnel from the 13th Brigade. The Australian contingent included 20 personnel each from the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force.
» During the joint exercise ideas were exchanged and tactics, techniques and procedures for conducting tactical operations were jointly rehearsed.
- Training curriculum also included sniper firing, and jointly operating surveillance and communication equipment to achieve a high degree of situational awareness.
- Apart from tactical actions at company/battalion level, casualty management and evacuation were also rehearsed.
» The exercise also helped in promoting understanding between the two militaries and further strengthened the defence cooperation between the two friendly nations.
About AUSTRAHIND:
» Exercise AUSTRAHIND was instituted in 2022 and the first edition was conducted in Mahajan, Rajasthan.
- It is planned to be an annual training event to be conducted alternatively in India and Australia.
- Aim of the exercise is to foster collaborative partnership and share best practices between the two sides.
- The exercise also promotes inter- operability while undertaking multi-domain operations in Urban and Semi- Urban terrain under Chapter VII of United Nations on peace keeping operations.
Sports
16th World Wushu Championships 2023
⇒ The 2023 World Wushu Championships was held at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, from November 16 to 20, 2023. It was the 16th edition of the World Wushu Championships.
Organized by:
- The World Wushu Championships (WWC) 2023 was organized by the United States of America Wushu-Kungfu Federation (USAWKF) under the auspices of the IWUF.
- This biennial signature event is hosted by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF).
Mascots:
The mascots of the 2023 World Wushu Championships were “Dillo” the armadillo and “Striker” the Longhorn.
Key Points:
- China topped the medal tally with a total of 15 medals, all gold medals.
- India finished 18th with a total of 3 medals including 1 silver and 2 bronze. Roshibina Devi, Kushal Kumar and Chavi won medals at the 16th World Wushu Championship in USA.
Indian medal winners at the 16th World Wushu Championships 2023:
Silver:
- Roshibina Devi Naorem – Women’s Sanda 60 kg category
Bronze:
- Kushal Kumar – Men’s Sanda 48 kg category
- Chhavi – Women’s Sanda 48 kg category