National
Shilp Guru and National Awards to master craftpersons for the year 2017, 2018 and 2019
⇒ The Union Ministry of Textiles organized the Shilp Guru and National Awards to master craftpersons for the year 2017, 2018 and 2019 on 28th November 2022.
The Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar addressed the award ceremony as the Chief Guest. The Vice President of India conferred the Shilp Guru and National Awards to the Master Craftspersons.
Shilp Guru and National Awards to master craftpersons for the year 2017, 2018 and 2019:
» 30 Shilp Guru Awards and 78 National Awards for the year 2017, 2018 and 2019 were presented to master craftspersons, 36 of whom are women, on 28 November 2022.
- The main objective of the awards is to give recognition for their excellence in craftsmanship and valuable contribution to Indian Handicrafts and textiles sector.
About Shilp Guru Awards:
- The Shilp Guru Awards are given to legendary master craftspersons in recognition of excellent craftsmanship, product excellence and the role played by them as gurus in the continuance of crafts to other trainee artisans as a vital part of traditional heritage.
- The Awards were started in 2002, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the resurgence of Handicrafts in India.
- The Award consists of a gold coin, Rs 2 lakhs prize money, a Tamrapatra, a shawl and a certificate.
» 30 Shilp Gurus have been selected for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 out of whom 24 are male and 06 are female.
About National Awards:
- The National Awards are being awarded since 1965 for outstanding craftsmanship in different craft categories.
- The main crafts for which the Awards have been given are Metal Engraving, Chikan Hand Embroidery, Khurja Blue Pottery, Mata Ni Pachedi Kalamkari, Bandhani, Tie & Dye, Hand Block Bagh Print, Warli Art, Stone Dust Painting, Sozni Hand Embroidery, Terracotta, Tanjore Painting, Sholapith, Kantha Hand Embroidery, Palm leaf Engraving, Brass wire inlay on wood, Wood Tarkashi, Madhubani Painting, Gold Leaf Painting , straw craft etc.
- The Award consists of Rs 1 lakh prize money, a Tamrapatra, a Shawl and a certificate.
» 78 craftspersons have been selected for the National Awards for the year 2017, 2018 and 2019 including 02 design innovation awards where a designer and artisan collaborate to create a unique product.
Complete list of Shilp Guru and National Awards to master craftpersons for the year 2017, 2018 and 2019 (Official Link)
Other Points:
- The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) has been implementing the scheme of National Awards for master craftspersons and Shilp Guru Awards.
- These Awards are being conferred every year to legendary master craftspersons of handicrafts whose work and dedication have contributed not only to the preservation of rich and diverse craft heritage of the country but also to the resurgence of handicraft sector as a whole.
- The Government implements various schemes for promotion and development of handicrafts sector under “National Handicraft Development Program (NHDP)” and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) through office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).
Scheme for Procurement of Aggregate Power of 4500 MW on competitive basis
⇒ Ministry of Power kicks off a Scheme for Procurement of Aggregate Power of 4500 MW on competitive basis or five years on Finance, Own and Operate (FOO) basis under B (v) of SHAKTI Policy in November 2022.
Nodal agency:
PFC Consulting Limited (A wholly owned subsidiary of PFC Ltd) has been designated as the Nodal Agency by the Ministry of Power.
Key Points:
- Under the scheme, PFC Consulting Ltd has invited bids for the supply of 4,500 MW.
- Supply of electricity will commence from April 2023.
- Ministry of Coal has been requested to allocate around 27 MTPA for this.
- It is for the first time that bidding is being carried out under B(v) of Shakti scheme. Also, revised PPA for medium term is being used in this bidding.
- This scheme is expected to help the states that are facing power shortage and also help generation plants to increase their capacities.
10 Mobile Health Clinics (MHC) 'Doctor Apke Dwar' under REC’s CSR project in Bihar
⇒ Shri R.K. Singh, Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy inaugurated REC’s CSR initiative for procurement, operation and maintenance of 10 Mobile Health Clinics (‘Doctor Apke Dwar’) at Sadar Hospital, Aarah, Bhojpur District Bihar in November 2022.
On the occasion, Shri R.K. Singh emphasized that the benefit of such projects should reach the poorest of the poor and people from the underprivileged sections of the society in order to provide better healthcare facilities to all.
Total cost of the project:
The total cost of the project is Rs 12.68 crore which will facilitate operational expenditure for three years for smooth functioning of the project.
Key Points:
- The 10 MHCs, out of which three are exclusively for women, will provide door-step primary health care service to the underprivileged population across all 14 blocks of Bhojpur district in Bihar.
- Each MHC shall be equipped with additional basic equipment and shall have a four-person team including a doctor, a nurse, a pharmacist and a driver cum support staff.
- Free generic medicines shall also be dispensed to the patients.
- Each MHC will organize over 20 camps per month and see 50-70 patients every day.
About REC Limited:
- REC Limited is an NBFC focusing on Power Sector Financing and Development across India.
- Established in 1969, REC Limited has completed over fifty years in the area of its operations.
- It provides financial assistance to state electricity boards, state governments, central/state power utilities, independent power producers, rural electric cooperatives and private sector utilities.
- Its business activities involve financing projects in the complete power sector value chain; for various types of projects including Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Renewable Energy.
- REC’s funding illuminates every fourth bulb in India.
International
4th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue 2022
⇒ Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held the 4th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue with Minister of Armed Forces of the French Republic Mr Sebastien Lecornu in New Delhi on 28 November 2022.
- French Minister of Armed Forces Mr. Lecornu was on a two-day visit to India.
Co-chair:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh co-chaired the fourth India-France Annual Defence Dialogue with French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu.
» France is one of India’s most trusted strategic partners and both countries look forward to celebrating 25 years of their strategic partnership in 2023.
A wide range of bilateral, regional, defence and defence industrial cooperation issues were discussed in the dialogue.
- The Ministers reviewed the ongoing military-to-military cooperation which has increased substantially in the recent years. They discussed means to strengthen maritime cooperation and increase the scope and complexity of bilateral exercises. They noted with satisfaction that India and France recently held their bilateral Air Exercise ‘Garuda’ at Air Force Station, Jodhpur successfully.
- During the dialogue, one of the key areas of discussion was defence industrial cooperation with a focus on ‘Make in India’. Future collaborations and potential co-production opportunities were discussed. The Ministers agreed that the technical groups from both the countries should meet early next year and take the key cooperation issues forward.
- The Ministers recognised their convergences on number of strategic & defence issues and shared the commitment to work together on enhancing cooperation in bilateral, regional and multilateral fora, with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region. France is the current chair of Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and both countries cooperate closely in these fora.