National
‘Suposhit Maa’ Initiative by Lok Sabha speaker, Om Birla
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has praised the initiative of ‘Suposhit Maa’ by Lok Sabha speaker, Om Birla.
Shri Birla inaugurated Suposhit Maa Abhiyan in Ramganjmandi area of Kota on 21 February 2023.
- The goal of this initiative to keep every mother and child healthy.
‘Suposhit Maa Abhiyan’ was started by identifying 1000 women in Kota-Bundi parliamentary constituency on 01 March 2020 to overcome the nutritional deficiency among women.
Best Tourism Village Competition
⇒ The Union Tourism Minister, Shri G. Kishan Reddy launched important initiatives for tourism promotion in the country in the presence of MoS, Tourism Shri Ajay Bhatt on 16 February 2023.
Union Tourism Minister launched a Portal for the unique initiative ‘Best Tourism Village Competition’.
Best Tourism Village Competition:
» The Ministry of Tourism launched Best Tourism Village Competition to select the best tourism village from across the country.
The ‘Best Tourism Village Competition’ helmed by the tourism ministry will be held in three stages, and will seek entries at district level, state level and finally at the national level.
- The Best Tourism Villages Competition seeks to honor a village that best exemplifies a rural tourism destination. The core aim of this competition to honor the villages that preserve and promote the local art, culture and Lifestyle.
- It showcases the renowned cultural and natural assets, preserves and promotes community-based values, goods, and lifestyles of the villages in India.
- It promotes the commitment of the villages towards sustainability in all of its aspects – economic, social, and environmental. Its goal is to make tourism one of the drivers of positive change, rural development, and community well-being.
Objectives of the Competition:
- Reduce disparities between development of rural tourism destinations.
- Progress in empowering the rural population.
- Enhance attraction capability and encourage rural change.
- Strengthen multi-level governance, collaborations, and community engagement.
- Boost connection, infrastructure, financial access, and investment. Advancement and digitalization.
- Develop new products and integrate value chains.
- Promote the connection between resilient, equitably distributed, and sustainable food systems and tourism.
- Increase the conservation of natural and cultural resources.
- Encourage sustainable methods to make better use of resources, reduce emissions, and reduce waste.
- Improve knowledge and abilities.
The evaluation criteria have been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Areas of evaluation:
- Cultural and Natural Resources (SDGs 8, 11, 12, 15)
- Economic Sustainability (SDGs 5,8,9,17)
- Environmental Sustainability (SDGs 7, 12, 13, 15, 17)
- Governance and Prioritization of Tourism (SDGs 9, 17)
- Health, Safety and Security (SDG 3)
- Promotion and Conservation of Cultural Resources (SDGs 8, 11, 12)
- Social Sustainability (SDGs 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17)
- Tourism Development and Value Chain Integration (SDGs 8, 9, 10, 12)
- Infrastructure and Connectivity (SDGs9,17)
» Union Tourism Minister also launched Rural Tourism Portal to promote rural tourism in India.
» The Global Tourism Investor Summit 2023 portal was also launched on the occasion.
- The Ministry of Tourism organized 1st Global Tourism Investors’ Summit during 17-19 May 2023 to showcase investible projects and opportunities in tourism and hospitality sector in India to domestic and international investors. This was organised in the backdrop of India’s G20 Presidency this year.
15th edition of ELECRAMA
⇒ Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal addressed the gathering at the 15th edition of ELECRAMA in Greater Noida on 21 February 2023.
- Shri Piyush Goyal said that there is a need to issue Quality Control Orders (QCOs) across sectors in the electrical industry.
- The Minister applauded the electrical industry for having achieved USD 10 billion worth of exports and their target of achieving exports worth USD 25 billion dollars in next five years. ‘But we have to achieve more’. He asked IEEMA to strive to make ELECRAMA an unbeatable exhibition.
ELECRAMA 2023:
The 15th ELECRAMA 2023 was organized by the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA) from 18-22 February 2023 at India Expo Mart Ltd., Greater Noida.
Theme:
The theme of the 15th edition of ELECRAMA was ‘Reimagining Energy for Sustainable Future’.
About ELECRAMA:
- ELECRAMA is the flagship showcase of the Indian Electrical Industry ecosystem and the largest standalone show in the electrical and allied equipment industry and also the largest T&D show in the world. It is a gateway to the world of electricity.
- ELECRAMA brings together the complete spectrum of solutions that powers the planet from source to socket and everything in between. Featuring not just equipment & technology, but thought leadership platforms for everything electric – from technical conclaves to industry summits.
International
1st G20 Finance Ministers & Central Bank Governors
⇒ The 1st G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the G20 Indian Presidency took place from February 24-25, 2023 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and the Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Dr Shaktikanta Das jointly chaired this meeting.
- The 1st G20 FMCBG meeting under the G20 Indian Presidency saw the participation of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the G20 members, invitee members, and heads of International Organisations. In total, 72 delegations attended the meeting.
- The Indian Presidency designed the meeting agenda in a manner that could foster a meaningful exchange of ideas among Ministers and Governors on pragmatic and meaningful approaches to address some of the key global economic issues.
- The meeting was spread over three sessions on February 24-25.
Inaugural address:
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the first meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors under India’s G20 Presidency via video message.
Day 1:
Several key sessions were lined up on Day 1 of the 1st Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting.
The Key Sessions on the first day of the FMCBG Meeting were:
- International Financial Architecture, Sustainable Finance and Infrastructure
- Financial Sector and Financial Inclusion
Day 2:
Day 2 of the meeting resumed facilitating constructive dialogue via key sessions and side events. The Key session on the second day of the FMCBG Meeting was “Global Economy, Health and International Tax”.
Two Side Events were also organised on the second day:
- Walk the Talk – Policy in Action (Introduction to Indian Tech Innovation) at IISc, Bengaluru.
- SME Financing – Bridging the Gap.
Indian innovators using tech to ensure inclusive development:
» Union Finance Minister Shri Nirmala Sitharaman and other senior delegates at the 1st G20 FMCBG joined the ‘Walk the Talk: Meeting with Tech Innovators’.
- The event showcased a variety of affordable tech innovations, and exhibits from sectors including EVs, semiconductors, robotic drones & advanced healthcare equipment.
Sports
2023 Kaba Uulu Kozhomkul & Raatbek Sanatbaev Tournament
⇒ The 2023 Kaba Uulu Kozhomkul & Raatbek Sanatbaev Tournament was a wrestling competition held between 1 and 4 June 2023 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
- It was held as the 3rd of the ranking series of United World Wrestling in 2023.
Indian Winner:
India won a total of 4 medals in the 2023 Kaba Uulu Kozhomkul & Raatbek Sanatbaev Tournament.
Men’s Greco-Roman:
- Manjeet – Bronze – 55kg Category
Women’s freestyle:
- Manisha Bhanwala – Gold – 65kg Category
- Reetika Hooda – Silver – 72kg Category
- Sarita Mor – Bronze – 59kg Category
Champions:
- Freestyle: Georgia (Total Medals- 5 Gold, 3 Silver, 3 Bronze)
- Greco-Roman: Iran (Total Medals- 5 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze)
- Women: Ukraine (Total Medals- 3 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze)