National
Jaipur Mahakhel 2023
⇒ The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the participants of Jaipur Mahakhel on 5th February, 2023 via video conferencing. He also witnessed a Kabbadi match on the occasion. Lok Sabha MP from Jaipur Rural, Shri Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was present on the occasion among others.
Organized by:
Shri Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Lok Sabha MP from Jaipur Rural has been organising the Jaipur Mahakhel since 2017.
Background:
- The Mahakhel, which focused on Kabaddi competition this year, started on National Youth Day i.e. 12th January, 2023.
- It witnessed participation of more than 6400 youths and sports persons from more than 450 Gram panchayats, Municipalities and Wards of all 8 legislative assembly regions of Jaipur Rural Lok Sabha constituency.
- The organisation of Mahkhel provides an opportunity to the youth of Jaipur to showcase their sporting talent and also motivates them to take up sport as a career option.
“Towards Panchamrit” -Conference & Exposition on driving India towards clean mobility
⇒ Union Minister for Heavy Industries Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey inaugurated– “Towards Panchamrit” -Conference & Exposition on driving India towards clean mobility, at ICAT Manesar, at International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), Manesar, Haryana on 04 February 2023.
- “Towards Panchamrit” -Conference & Exposition was based on the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) schemes for promotion and development of automotive industry in the country.
To drive India towards cleaner mobility, Government is giving a major push to clean fuels.
- “Towards Panchamrit” event is a effort in this direction, to promote adoption of “Panchamrit” i.e. 5 clean fules – Hydrogen, Ethanol, Bio Diesel, Gas and ELectric Vehicles.
» Union Minister for Heavy Industries Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey and MoS Heavy Industries Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar also inaugurated the exposition and ICAT Incubation Centre.
Technical sessions:
The Technical sessions on developing technologies for Hydrogen, EVs, Biofuels and Gas fueled vehicles were organised.
- The eminent speakers of the automotive industries presented their insightful presentations on new cutting-edge technologies and way forward to achieve vision of Atmanirbhar in the industry.
- The conference deliberations also brought out policy and regulatory ecosystem for faster adoption of these new technologies.
Key Points:
- The event was attended by Automotive Industry leaders, Senior Government Officials from MHI, NITI Aayog, MoRT&H, MoP, MoP&NG, Senior academicians, Start-ups and students.
- The exposition had displays from over 84 companies which included 33 Component Manufacturers, 11 companies from testing equipment manufacturers and 36 vehicle manufacturers.
- Ministry has taken several initiatives such as PLI – Auto, PLI – Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC) and FAME-II to boost manufacturing of environmental friendly products in Automotive Industry.
- These schemes focus on creating a robust ecosystem of innovation that will enable development of clean mobility solutions and reduce carbon foot print of the country.
- First of its kind incubation center for automotive products inaugurated during the event, will nurture and hand-hold start-ups in developing the market ready products.
PM acknowledges 13-year-old Meenakshi Kshatriya for enrolling herself as Ni-Kshay Mitra
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has lauded the noteworthy gesture of 13-year-old Meenakshi Kshatriya from Katni, Madhya Pradesh for enrolling herself as Ni-Kshay Mitra and taking care of TB patients with her savings.
About Meenakshi:
- Meenakshi Kshatriya is not only the brand ambassador of Ni-Kshay Mitra, but has also earned the title of being the youngest life member of the Red Cross Committee.
- Meenakshi is the brand ambassador of TB eradication at a young age. Influenced by PM Modi, she joined the TB-free campaign by 2025.
- For this, Meenakshi broke even her piggy bank and provided an amount of Rs 4200 to the Red Cross Committee for providing nutritious food to 1 TB patient continuously for 6 months.
International
10th edition of the International Indian Material Recycling Conference
⇒ Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) hosted the 10th edition of the International Indian Material Recycling Conference from 2 – 4 February 2023 in Kochi.
Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia addressed at the plenary session of the 10th edition of the International Indian Material Recycling Conference in Kochi.
- Union Minister said that Central Government stands firm on its commitment to the material recycling industry, a sector that needs to be encouraged and pushed forward in today’s world.
- Today the recycling industry contributes almost 10,000 crores to India’s GST and in the years to come it is expected to go up by 35,000 crore.
Organized by:
The 10th edition of the International Indian Material Recycling Conference was organized by the Material Recycling Association of India.
Focus:
The conclave created focused on highlighting a deeper insight into maximizing the rate of recycling, protecting natural resources, minimizing environmental pollution, creating more employment opportunities, and helping achieve the sustainable development goal of India’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2070.
- The 3- day event saw multiple Panel Discussions like Plastic Recycling EPR Policy & BIS Standards, Policy Framework & Technological Advancement in Tyre Recycling etc.
Participants:
- This biggest-ever meet of global recyclers saw more than 1800 Delegates, including 450 Foreign Delegates from 38 countries.
- The conference was attended by eminent international industry leaders, Govt of India Officials from Ministry of Steel, Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, NITI AAYOG, Ministry of Electronics, Information & Technology, Ministry of Shipping, Bureau of Indian Standards and more.
Important Day
World Wetlands Day 2023
⇒ World Wetlands Day is observed globally every year on 2 February, with the aim of raising awareness of the important role of wetlands for people and the planet.
Theme:
The 2023 theme for World Wetlands Day was ‘Wetland Restoration’ which highlights the urgent need to prioritize wetland restoration.
- It is a call on an entire generation to take proactive action for wetlands, by investing financial, human and political capital to save the wetlands from disappearing and to revive and restore those that have been degraded.
History:
- World Wetlands Day is observed to commemorate the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar.
- 2 February 2022 was the first year that World Wetlands Day was observed as a United Nations international day, following its adoption by the General Assembly in August 2021 in a resolution co-sponsored by 75 member states.
- On 30 August 2021 the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 75/317 that established 2 February as World Wetlands Day.
- The first World Wetlands Day was celebrated in 1997 in some countries such as Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela etc.
India’s achievements:
- India is a party to the Convention since 1982 and has so far declared 75 wetlands as Ramsar sites covering 23 states and Union Territories.
- India has the largest network of Ramsar Sites in Asia, making these sites a critical ecological network for the conservation of global biological diversity and supporting human well-being.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched Mission Sahbhagita in 2022 with a mission of ‘a healthy and effectively managed network of 75 wetlands of national and international significance which support water and food security; buffer from floods, droughts, cyclones and other extreme events; employment generation; conservation of species of local, national and international significance; climate change mitigation and adaptation actions; and recognition, conservation and celebration of cultural heritage.’