National
Yuva Samvaad- India@2047
⇒ To celebrate ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ in the spirit of Yuva Shakti, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, is organizing ‘Yuva Utsava’ and ‘Yuva Samvad’ between 24th February 2023 and 31st May 2023.
Yuva Utsava and Yuva Samvad initiatives aim to rekindle the spirit of patriotism and values of India’s Freedom Struggle by engaging the youth in various events.
» Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth and Sports, Shri Anurag Thakur participated in the “Youth Dialogue, India @ 2047 Program” organized at Agartala, Tripura on 13 January 2023. During this, he established a direct dialogue with the youth present there.
Yuva Utsava:
- Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur, formally launched the Yuva Utsava- India@2047 on 4th March 2023 from Ropar, Punjab.
- During the first phase of Yuva Utsava, under which 150 Districts across the country conducted Yuva Utsava from 4th March to 31st March 2023 to celebrate the youth power, and become part of India’s rich cultural heritage of Vasudhaiva-kutumbakam.
Yuva Samvad:
The revamped Yuva Samvad is being organized at district level with the cooperation and support of various CBOs (Community Based Organizations) of the district to generate a positive discourse on the future of the country in line with the Panch Prans as envisioned by the Prime Minister.
Theme:
The theme of the Yuva Samvaad- India@2047 is “India’s Panch Pran- A Youth Dialogue/Bharat Ke Panch Pran- Ek Yuva Paricharcha”.
Focus:
Yuva Samvaad- India@2047 is being held with a primary focus on NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) Youth as well as other employed, professionals and daily wage earner youth of the district.
Key Points:
- Yuva Samvad- India @ 2047 is being organised across the country on the lines of the Yuva Samvad at the national level held by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on 12th August, 2022 as part of the International Youth Day celebrations.
- The Samvad is an unstructured discussion among youth led by persons of eminence.
- The discussion will be followed by a question-and-answer session. A maximum of three programs are being held in every district with around 500 participants in each program.
- The Yuva Samvaad in a single phrase can be defined as– “for the youth, by the youth, of the youth”.
Background:
The Prime Minister has gifted the Panch Pran to the nation during his Independence Day Speech on 15th August, 2022.
- These Prans shall play a vital role in ensuring the vision of Bharat as Vishwaguru in 2047. Hence it is essential for the youth to understand and adopt the Panch Pran in the age of Amrit Kaal.
The Panch Pran are:
- Goal of developed India
- Remove any trace of slavery or colonial mindset
- Take pride in our heritage and legacy
- Unity and solidarity
- Sense of duty among citizens.
In order to popularize the same among the youth of the country NYKS is organising revamped Yuva Samvaad- India@2047. The dialogue and discussion during the Yuva Samvaad India @ 2047 are based on the theme of Panch Prans.
India’s First Centre of Excellence in Online Gaming
⇒ The Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar was on a 2-day official visit to Meghalaya in January 2023.
During the visit, the minister announced that the Digital India Startup Hub through the Software Technology Parks of India shall set up India’s first Centre of Excellence in Online Gaming at Shillong by March 2023.
- The Centre of Excellence in Shillong is expected to catalyse startups and entrepreneurs from the entire North East Region to build the Next Gen Online Gaming ecosystem.
» The Minister announced another initiative of MeitY to set up a state-of-the-art facility under the National Institute of Electronics and IT (NIELIT) to provide training on cutting edge Digital Skills at Shillong.
- A 10-acre campus shall soon be ready for this purpose which shall cater to the skilling requirement of youth in the North East Region.
International
1st 'VEER GUARDIAN 2023', Joint Air Defence Exercise between India and Japan
⇒ To promote Air Defence cooperation between the countries, India and Japan held the joint Air Exercise, ‘Veer Guardian-2023’ from 12 January 2023 to 26 January 2023 at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan.
The inaugural edition of the bilateral air exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2023’ between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) concluded in Japan, on 26 January 2023.
IAF And JASDF contingents:
The JASDF participated in the exercise with its F-2 and F-15 aircraft, while the IAF contingent participated with the Su-30 MKI aircraft.
- The IAF fighter contingent was complemented by one IL-78 Flight Refueling Aircraft and two C-17 Globemaster strategic airlift transport aircraft.
Key Points:
- During the joint training spanning 16 days, the two Air Forces engaged in complex and comprehensive aerial manoeuvres in multiple simulated operational scenarios.
- The exercise involved precise planning and skillful execution by both the air forces.
- IAF and JASDF engaged in air combat manoeuvring, interception and air defence missions, both in Visual and Beyond Visual Range settings.
- Aircrew of the two participating Air Forces also flew in each other’s fighter aircraft to gain a deeper understanding of each other’s operating philosophies.
- Exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2023’ provided the two Air Forces with an opportunity to enhance mutual understanding.
- The exercise also witnessed numerous ground interactions between IAF and JASDF personnel wherein various aspects were discussed by both sides.
- This enabled the participating contingents to obtain an invaluable insight into each other’s best practices and learn from each other’s unique capabilities.
Background:
- The second 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan on 08 September 2022.
- During the meeting, India and Japan agreed to step up bilateral defence cooperation and engage in more military exercises, including holding the first joint fighter jet drills, reflecting the growing security cooperation between the two sides.
- This exercise will thus be another step-in deepening strategic ties and closer defence cooperation between the two countries.
Important Day
7th Armed Forces Veterans Day 2023
⇒ As a mark of respect to the selfless duty of the ex-servicemen & their sacrifices towards the Nation and solidarity towards Next of Kin of the bravehearts, the 7th Armed Forces Veterans’ Day was celebrated across the country on January 14, 2023.
Nine locations to celebrate:
This year the event was celebrated at nine locations across the country, namely Juhunjhunu, Jalandhar, Panagarh, New Delhi, Dehradun, Chennai, Chandigarh, Bhubaneshwar and Mumbai by three Service Headquarters.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh presided over 7th Armed Forces Veterans Day Celebrations by addressing an Armed Forces Veterans Rally at Jaswant Ground in Dehradun Cantonment.
Key Points:
- The Raksha Mantri also launched the ‘Soul of Steel’ Alpine Challenge, an initiative to promote tourism in border areas.
- The ‘Soul of Steel Alpine Challenge’ is a joint adventure sport initiative of the Indian Army and CLAW Global.
- He launched a website for volunteers to sign up for various adventure activities under this joint initiative of the Indian Army and CLAW Global, a veterans’ organization.
- ‘Road to the End’, a 460-km long car rally was also flagged off by Shri Rajnath Singh as part of a joint expedition by Indian Army and CLAW. The rally reached its destination in the Garhwal Himalayas near Niti Village in Chamoli district in the next three days.
- To pay homage to the supreme sacrifice and the dedicated service of our Armed Forces, he dedicated Shaurya Sthal- developed by Uttarakhand War Memorial Trust, which unanimously decided to hand over its control to the Indian Army, to the Armed Forces on Veterans’ Day.
- The event witnessed the release of SAMMAAN magazine, a yearly journal published by Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV) covering informative articles and various topics of interest to the veteran community. The Indian Air Force also released the VAYU SEMVEDNA magazine.
About Armed Forces Veterans’ Day:
- The Indian Armed Forces celebrated the Armed Forces Veterans’ Day on 14 January.
- On this very day, January 14 1953, the First Indian Commander in Chief (C-in-C) of Indian Army- Field Marshal KM Cariappa, who led Indian Forces to Victory in the 1947 war, had formally retired from the Services. He was the first Indian Chief of the Indian Army.
- The Day is celebrated as Armed Forces Veterans Day and dedicated to our esteemed Veterans.
- It was decided to commemorate this day every year by hosting such interactive events in the honor of our Armed Forces Veterans and their families.
- The Armed Forces Veterans’ Day is being commemorated since 14 January 2017 to reaffirm the camaraderie between the retired, the serving and the nation and remember & honour the heroes who made the supreme sacrifice and selflessly served the nation.