National
President of India lays the foundation stone for "DIVINE LIGHT HOUSE" of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya
⇒ The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu laid foundation stone for “Divine Light House” of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya at Dasabatia, Tamando on July 27, 2023.
- Smt Droupadi Murmu also launched its theme of the year “The Year of Positive Change” for conducting seminars and conferences.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya is not just an organization, but also a social and spiritual campaign run by women.
3rd edition of the Summit on “Global Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs in India” (GCPMH 2023)
⇒ The “3rd edition of Summit on Global Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs in India” (GCPMH 2023) was held on July 27th – 28th, 2023 at the Hotel Le Meridien in New Delhi.
Organized by:
The summit was jointly organized by the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Theme:
The theme of the 3rd edition of ‘India: Global Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs’ (GCPMH 2023) was “Sustainability and Circularity”.
Objectives:
- Highlighting and promoting segment-wise investment opportunities in respective investment regions
- Showcasing the roadmap for Infrastructure development and its up-gradation plan
- Devising strategies (anchor tenant) for feed-stock availability
- Demonstrate the benefits of co-siting, networking, and greater efficiency using common infrastructure and support services
- Highlighting the initiatives undertaken by Government of India to facilitate the growth of the sector
- To boost domestic manufacturing and exports
- Promoting research and development and scope of technology transfer and Skill Development in the Chemical and Petrochemical sector
- Promoting sustainability initiatives for comprehensive development of the industry
- Industry excellence awards to recognize innovative work and boost innovation in the industry
- Development of alternative, disruptive and sustainable solutions/business practices
Various Sessions:
- Session 1: The captivating opportunities of PCPIRs/ Chemical Hubs
- Session 2: Roadmap to Net Carbon Zero
- Session 3: India’s journey to be energy self-sufficient by 2047 and way forward
- Session 4: FTAs – Connecting the world – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam “One Earth, One Family, One Future”
- Session 5: Financial Strategies & Tools for Risk Management in Chemicals Petrochemicals (CPC) Industry
- Session 6: Fueling R & D, Skill Development, and Innovation in CPC Industry
- Session 7: Sustainability through Circular Economy
Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the 3rd Edition of Summit on “Global Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs in India” (GCPMH 2023) in New Delhi on July 27, 2023.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal addressed the Session on ‘FTAs – Connecting the world- Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam- One Earth, One Family, One Future’ as the Chief Guest of the summit.
Key Points:
- The event saw the participation of several industry leaders whose engagement has played a pivotal role in advancing the sustainable growth of the industry.
- The event offered a great opportunity for attendees to gain valuable insights into the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in the industry.
Background:
- The Chemical and Petrochemical Industry is a key contributor to the social and economic development of our country. The chemical industry is a knowledge intensive as well as capital-intensive industry and occupies a pivotal position in meeting basic needs and improving quality of life.
- To seize the opportunity to establish India as a leading chemicals & petrochemicals manufacturing hub, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals has been organizing the “Global Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs” (GCPMH) Summit biennially since 2019.
- The Summit is one of the largest composite biennial event for promotion of Chemical and petrochemical manufacturing hubs in India.
International
ADB, India sign loan to upgrade state highways in Bihar
⇒ The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed agreement for a $295 million loan to upgrade around 265 kilometer state highways with climate and disaster resilient design, and road safety elements in the state of Bihar on 27 July 2023.
Key Points:
- The project supports the Government of Bihar’s programme to upgrade all state highways to standard two-lane widths and improve road safety. The improved roads will enhance connectivity in some of Bihar poorest rural districts and promote access to health and education facilities, and markets to improve people’s lives.
- Among the Initiatives to strengthen the state road agency, Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited, will include developing a road asset management system which includes climate change and disaster risk information, establishing research laboratories in the Bihar Road Research Institute to enable investigation of materials, including reusable, and sustainable materials, to alleviate the effects of climate change, conducting studies on congestion management and climate adaptation, and creating guidelines for gender-inclusive practices in road safety measures.
» Since 2008, ADB has provided five loans totaling $1.63 billion to the state of Bihar, for upgradation of about 1,696 kilometer state highways and construction of a new bridge over the Ganga River.
India and Papua New Guinea sign MoU on sharing INDIA STACK
⇒ Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) of India and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) of Papua New Guinea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to share INDIA STACK — a collection of open APIs and digital public goods that aim to facilitate identity, data, and payment services on a large scale.
The MoU is expected to enhance capacities and facilitate sharing and implementation of population-scale Digital Public Infrastructure and Transformational Platforms/projects to improve living standards and enhance efficiency and transparency in governance.
» The discussions during the event covered essential aspects of digital transformation, such as Digital Public Infrastructure, Digital Identity, Digital Payment, Data Exchange, Data Governance, Data Protection Policies, internet, and mobile connectivity.
Background:
- This collaboration comes after the Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar met with Timothy Mark Masiu, MP & Minister for ICT, Papua New Guinea, in July 2023.
- During the meeting, they discussed mutual cooperation in the fields of IT, emerging technologies, and the India stack.
» Earlier in June 2023, India signed MoU with four countries on sharing INDIA STACK during the meeting.
Important Day
24th Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas
⇒ ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ is celebrated every year on 26 July.
The Nation paid rich tributes to the brave soldiers of the 1999 Kargil war on the 24th anniversary of India’s historic victory on 26 July 2023.
History:
- Dubbed ‘Operation Vijay’, the military campaign held in the month of July in 1999 saw the Indian Army troops clearing the Kargil sector of the infiltrators, which included both Pakistani soldiers and rebel forces.
- After that, the Indian Army seizing back control of key outposts in Ladakh after ousting Pakistani troops from the region. Defeating its adversaries in the war, the Indian Army finally hosted the national flag at Kargil on July 26. It is estimated that as many as 527 Indian soldiers died in the war, while more than 1,300 were injured.
- India celebrates Kargil Vijay Diwas to mark the anniversary of the Indian Army’s victory against Pakistan on this day in 1999, after more than 60 days of armed conflict on the highlands of Kargil in Ladakh.