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Current Affairs Date: 24 December 2022

National

Paryatan Parv - 2022

⇒ As part of Iconic Week celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Ministry of Tourism organized ‘Paryatan Parv – 2022’ (Tourism Festival) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai from 30th September to 2nd October 2022.

‘Paryatan Parv’ was an initiative based on the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that aims for promotion of domestic tourism. During his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 3rd Independence Day, the Prime Minister had appealed to all the Indians to visit at least 15 tourist destinations across India by 2022.

Significance:
    • The Paryatan Parv in Mumbai was organized to showcase diverse Culture, Art, Crafts and Cuisine of the States and one UT from Western & Central Region namely Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and UT of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
    • This also brought about a better understanding of heritage and culture of the Region amongst Mumbaikars.
    • The event was promoted with the aim of creating awareness about varied Tourism Product, Cuisine, Heritage and Culture of India.

» The other Central Ministries like Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (Central Bureau of Communication), Defense, AYUSH, Textiles (Development Commissioner Handicrafts) etc also participated in the event.

Building Science Leaders Program

⇒ Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology; Minister of State (I/C) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh addressed the launch of “Building Science Leaders Program” in New Delhi on 29 September 2022.

Addressing after the launch of “Building Science Leaders Program”-
    • Dr Jitendra Singh said, “Science Leaders” are needed to drive the integration of science and technological development within society in a way that places science in position to address the needs of the citizen and the sector.
    • He said, for government service delivery, it is important for scientists to be at the forefront of their work and hone competencies to deliver science for the public good.
    • He lauded the role of the Capacity Building Commission, Office of PSA to the GoI, Indian Space Research Organization for engaging with the Centre for Technology, Innovation and Economic Research and Ahmedabad University to develop and deliver the ‘Building Science Leaders in India’ programme.
About Program:

» The ‘Building Science Leaders in India’ was a uniquely designed collaborative executive development programme for scientists who are leading labs or are likely to assume leadership roles and future directors of research organizations.

    • The program honed the key competencies such as communication, design thinking and project management in scientists.
The program was designed in two phases:
    • Phase 1 (online): Two days online program held on 7th and 8th September
    • Phase 2 (in-person): Four days of the programme in-person program at ISRO Bangalore between 27th and 30th September.

» The first batch of the program had participation from 7 scientific departments under the government of India – DST, DBT, ISRO, DAE, CSIR, MoES and MoEFCC.

International

Visit of Admiral R Hari Kumar, CNS to Australia

⇒ Admiral R Hari Kumar, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Indian Navy visited Australia from 26 Sep – 28 Sep 22.

    • This was his first official visit to Australia upon assuming the office of the CNS.
Discussions:

During the visit, he held meetings with Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Chief of Navy, Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Vice Admiral David Johnston, Vice Chief of Australian Defence Forces, Mr Greg Moriarty, Secretary of Defence, Air Marshal Robert Chipman, Chief of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Air Vice Marshal Mike Kitcher, Deputy Chief of Joint Operations.

    • During these meetings, the leaders expressed their commitment to pursue collaborative activities in several areas of bilateral convergence.
Key Points:
    • India and Australia share commonality of perspectives on several contemporary maritime security issues in the Indo-Pacific and have been working together closely in several bilateral and multilateral fora such as the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, Indian Ocean Rim Association and Western Pacific Naval Symposium.
    • Coming on the heels of successful participation of Indian Naval Ship Satpura and one P8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft of Indian Navy in the recently concluded multilateral exercise KAKADU, the visit of the CNS further consolidated the strong and long-standing bilateral relations between two countries.

Mr Loh Khum Yean, Minister in PMO calls on Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh

⇒ Singapore Minister in PMO, Loh Khum Yean called on his Indian counterpart Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh in New Delhi on 29 September 2022. He was on a 2-day visit to India.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said, India and Singapore are closely collaborating in cutting edge areas like fintech, information technology, cyber security, skill development, smart city solutions and renewable energy and food security.

Discussion:
    •  Dr Jitendra Singh said, the strategic partnership between India and Singapore has shown its resilience and both sides look forward to further strengthening this important relationship in areas like trade, defence, science and innovation, education, governance and the digital economy.
    • Loh Khum Yean told his Indian counterpart Dr Jitendra Singh that Singapore has emerged as the top source nation in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) equity flows into India for the financial year 2021-22. The amount of FDI inflow from Singapore to India in fiscal year 2022 was estimated to be almost 16 billion U.S. dollars.
    • Both the sides also discussed to firm up the Exchange Program of Civil Services and visit by PM Excellence Awardees to Singaporean Institutes of Excellence.
    • The Future of Work, Workforce and Workplace of Singapore has agreed to work closely with the Vision India-2047, being headed by Dr Jitendra Singh.
Background:

» Earlier, the Second Bilateral Meeting was held in New Delhi which was co-chaired by Secretary (DARPG) Shri V. Srinivas and Loh Khum Yean, Permanent Secretary, Public Service Department (PSD), Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore.

    • During the meeting both sides exchanged information on initiatives taken in the field of governance reforms.

» V, Srinivas, Secretary, DARPG informed that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Singapore in the field of Personnel Management and Public Administration was signed on 1st June, 2018.

    • Key areas identified for cooperation include Public Service Delivery, Human Resource Management, Public Sector Reform, Leadership/Talent Development and E-Governance/Digital Government.

Important Day

81st Foundation Day of CSIR

⇒ This year, the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), one of the largest R&D organisations of India, celebrated its 81st Foundation Day.

Delhi based CSIR laboratory the National Institute of Science Communication & Policy Research (NIScPR) celebrated 81st Foundation Day on 27th September 2022 at the National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC), Todapur, New Delhi.

    • 37 laboratories spread across the country, celebrate this special day at their own place.
About CSIR:

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) was set up on 26 September 1942.

Source: PIB & Other News Reports

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