National
Intelligent Grievance Monitoring System (IGMS) 2.0 Public Grievance portal and Automated Analysis in Tree Dashboard portal of DARPG
⇒ Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched the IGMS 2.0 Public Grievance portal and Automated Analysis in Tree Dashboard portal of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) on 29 September 2023.
Implemented by:
The Intelligent Grievance Monitoring System (IGMS) 2.0 Dashboard has been implemented by IIT Kanpur following an MoU with DARPG on December 14, 2021 for upgrading DARPG Information Systems (CPGRAMS) with Artificial Intelligence capabilities.
Key Points:
- The Dashboard provides instant tabular analysis of Grievances Filed & Disposed, State-wise & District-wise Grievances Filed & Ministry-wise data. Besides, the Dashboard will also help the officials identify the root cause of the grievance.
- CPGRAMS portal is available in 22 Scheduled languages along with English so that the common man could avail of its benefits.
Background:
With a ballooning caseload of problems being raised by the common man and their trust in the timebound redressal of their grievances, close to 20 lakh grievances are received annually on the CPGRAMS portal. In view of the large number of grievances, the classification and monitoring of grievances cannot be done manually.
- Thus, the IGMS portal will help the DARPG with creation of draft letter for selected scheme/ministry and expedite the grievance redressal process by the concerned ministry/department.
India’s first 5G Training Labs and 5G health applications in all North Eastern States
⇒ Minister for Development of North East Region, Tourism, and Culture, Shri G. Kishan Reddy launched India’s first 5G training labs and 5G applications in health sector in all the eight North Eastern States on 29 September 2023.
Implemented by:
The project is centrally funded through North East Council (NEC) and being implemented by Assam Electronic Development Corporation (AMTRON), a PSU of Assam government.
» MoS Shri B. L. Verma commended NEC and AMTRON for the establishment of India’s first-ever 5G labs in all eight North Eastern states, aligning with Finance Minister’s 2023-24 budget speech announcements.
- He emphasized that these labs would not only bridge the digital divide but also empower the youth with essential skills for the information age, fostering the growth of the knowledge economy in the North East.
Agri-Tech Start-up conclave titled “ATMAN-2023”
⇒ Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh addressed the Agri-Tech Start-up Conclave titled “ATMAN-2023” on 29 September 2023.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that StartUps are the torch-bearers of India’s Amrit Kaal journey over the next 25 years.
- He called for wider synergy among the Research, Academia, StartUps and Industry for having a win-win proposition not only for innovative product development, but also for effective national and global branding and marketing.
- Atman as a unique initiative as the ATMAN partners are working together as a team to provide an exclusive platform for the agricultural startups and innovations and some of these technologies were displayed and demonstrated at the Expo organized during the programme.
- The event was organized to help potential startups with financial and technical assistance with promising ideas, innovations, and technologies for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, and market entry.
- The Technology Innovation Hubs at IITs Bombay, Ropar, Indore and Kharagpur were collectively offering a total fund of Rs 20 Crore to provide financial support to the tune of Rs 50 lakhs to each startup.
Key Points:
- The ATMAN 2023 programme, was planned to promote Innovation and Entrepreneurship and support the AgriTech Startup Ecosystem to increase the number, success rate, and impact of Agri Tech startups.
- It has brought in the participation of stakeholders from government, industry, and academia, as well as farmer producer organizations and NGOs taking forward DST’s unwavering commitment to advancing AgriTech innovation in India.
International
Exercise BRIGHT STAR 2023
⇒ “Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23” was conducted from 31 August to 14 September 2023 in Egypt.
- It is a multinational tri-services joint military exercise, that was led by United States Central Command (US CENTCOM) and Egyptian Army.
- This time 34 countries participated in Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23.
- It was the largest ever joint military exercise in Middle East & North Africa region.
Focus:
BRIGHT STAR 2023 focused on promoting coalition interoperability throughout the full range of military operations through multinational and multi-domain training exercises such as:
- Combined Arms Maneuver Live Fire Exercise
- Maritime Security
- Integrated Air and Missile Defense
- Amphibious Assault Operations
- Airborne Assault Operations
- Counterterrorism
- Joint Tactical Air Control
- Cyber Security Operations
- Planning/Executing Joint Military Operations on Tactical and Operational Levels
- Common Air Operations
- Integrated Maneuver Units
- Border Control
» This was the first time that the Indian Armed Forces participated in Exercise BRIGHT STAR 23 at Mohammed Naguib Military Base with a total strength of 549 personnel.
» The Indian Army contingent comprised 137 personnel. The Indian Army was represented by a contingent from 23 JAT Battalion.
Key Points:
- The Exercise comprised of a large number of training activities focused on combating emerging unconventional threats and enhancing regional partnerships amongst participating nations aimed at maintaining world peace.
- In addition to the various field and situational training exercises, Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23 also included a combined arms live firing exercise based on a tactical setting.
- Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23 provided a unique opportunity to Indian Army to share best practices and experiences with other armies besides enhancing the defence cooperation.
» INS Sumedha arrived at Port Alexandria, Egypt on 06 September 2023 to participate in ‘Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23’.
- This was the maiden participation of the Indian Navy in Ex Bright Star, which also saw the participation of Naval ships from other Friendly Foreign Navies.
Ex Bright Star 23 was conducted in two phases:
- The Harbour Phase involved wide-ranging activities such as cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, sports fixtures and interactions for planning and conduct of the Sea Phase.
- The Sea Phase included complex and high intensity exercises encompassing cross deck flying, anti-surface and anti-air exercises including live weapon firing drills.
The exercise provided an opportunity to the Indian Navy to enhance and demonstrate interoperability and also gain from the best practices in maritime security operations from its partner nations.
» This was the first time that the Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in EX-Bright Star-23, in which contingents from the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Greece and Qatar also participated.
- The Indian Air Force contingent consisted of five MiG-29, two IL-78, two C-130 and two C-17 aircraft.
- Personnel from the IAF’s Garud Special Forces, as well as those from the Numbers 28, 77, 78 and 81 Squadrons participated in the exercise.
- The IAF transport aircraft also provided airlift to approximately 150 personnel from the Indian Army.
The objective of the exercise was to practice planning and execution of joint operations. Besides leading to the formation of bonding across borders, such interactions also provided a means to further strategic relations between participating nations.
Background:
- It was initially conceptualized as a bilateral biennial training exercise between the US and Egypt during the Camp David Accord of 1977.
- The first edition of the Exercise was conducted in the year 1980 in Egypt. From 1995 onwards the Exercise was expanded for participation by other nations.
- The previous Exercise BRIGHT STAR was conducted in the year 2021 wherein forces of 21 countries had participated.