National
4th edition of Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) - 2023
⇒ The 4th edition of Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) – 2023 was hosted by the Indian Navy from 29 – 31 October 2023 under the aegis of the Naval War College, Goa.
- The event hosted Minister/ Chiefs of Navies/ Heads of Maritime Forces from 12 IOR countries comprising Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Theme:
The theme for 4th GMC was “Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean Region: Converting Common Maritime Priorities into Collaborative Mitigating Frameworks”.
- The conclave’s theme aptly highlights the present and necessary imperative for ‘harmonising and collaborating capacities and capabilities’ in the Indian Ocean Region towards realising our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
In line with the principal theme of the conclave, on the first day of the event, detailed deliberations were held on four sub-themes:
- Identifying Gaps in Regulatory and Legal Frameworks for Achieving Maritime Security in the IOR
- Formulation of a Common Multi-lateral Maritime Strategy and Operating Protocols for GMC Nations for Collective Mitigation of Maritime Threats and Challenges
- Identification and Establishment of Collaborative Training Programmes with Center of Excellence across the IOR
- Leveraging Activities Pursued Through Existing Multilateral Organisations in the IOR towards Generating Collective Maritime competencies
Key Points:
» On the sidelines of the conclave, the Chief of the Naval Staff, the Flag Officers Commanding-in-Chief and the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff held bilateral interactions with their counterparts from the FFCs.
- In addition, Heads of Delegation/ Chief of Naval Staff from the participating countries also held bilateral interaction with their counterparts from other countries.
» On the concluding day, the Chiefs of Navy/ Heads of Delegation shared their perspectives of the opportunities and threats in the IOR.
- There was a common thread of understanding among all the eminent speakers on the need for cooperation and collaboration in pursuing security and growth for all in the region.
» As part of India’s AatmaNirbharta initiative, a “Make in India Exhibition” was organised on the sidelines of the conclave wherein India’s Indigenous shipbuilding industry’s potential was showcased.
- The dignitaries also visited indigenous warships and witnessed the capabilities of the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV).
About GMC:
- GMC is the Indian Navy’s outreach Initiative providing a multinational platform to harness the collective wisdom of practitioners of maritime security and the academia towards garnering outcome oriented maritime thought.
- Previous editions of the biennial event were held in 2017, 2019, and 2021.
- It provided a forum for exchange of views by the Chiefs of Navy/ Heads of Maritime Agencies on dealing with contemporary and future maritime challenges, as well as presenting cooperative strategies for enhancing interoperability amongst partner maritime agencies.
Vimarsh – 2023, a National Hackathon on 5G Technology use for Police
⇒ The Curtain Raiser of Vimarsh – 2023, a National Hackathon on 5G technology use for police was conducted in New Delhi on 25 October 2023.
Vimarsh 2023, Hackathon on 5G is a critical endeavor aimed at developing potential solutions, ideas and prototypes in the form of Minimum Viable Products, designed to empower Law Enforcement Agencies in their ongoing efforts against cybercrime and cybersecurity threats within the dynamic landscape of 5G communication technology.
Conducted by:
Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) has been nominated Ministry of Home Affairs’ Centre of Excellence for the purpose of 5G applications use cases within MHA.
- Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D), Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Telecom (DoT) and TCoE-India introduced a National Level Hackathon on 5G, ‘Vimarsh 2023′.
- Accordingly, BPR&D is conducting a Hackathon on 5G for the purpose of developing tools for addressing the challenges and issues being faced by Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs).
Problem Statements:
In this Hackathon, 9 Problem Statements have been formulated and the Department of Telecom (DOT) with its subsidiary Telecom Centre of Excellence (TCOE) have joined hands with BPR&D to conduct Hackathon with students, startups & MSMEs.
- Develop a robust framework to get Real time location of mobile users with Internal authentication App (permissions)
- 3D Capturing (AR/VR/XR) of crime scenes using 5G enabled devices also used for capacity building & operations.
- App/framework for integration of surveillance wearables gadgets using lots and subsequent analysis & analytics using Al / ML
- Intelligent Traffic management- 5G enabled Al cameras crime scene management including 3D (AR/VR)
- Develop a Data analytic using 5G Metadata for predictive policing, HoT spot detection, crime mapping, geo fencing
- APP for Emergency response vehicle (incl. fire dept vehicles) embedded with 5G CPEs for Critical Voice / Video / Data communications.
- APP for 5G enabled Drones (control and data) for surveillance, security and safety
- Create Software routing security framework for private network for 5G communication network
- Develop an App (AI/ML based) to give assistance to LEAs in investigation, evidence collection, drafting of charge sheets.
Stages:
The Hackathon involves three stages of ideas screening – Stages I and II were conducted in virtual mode, while Stage III was held at nodal centres in physical mode where the 5G testbeds/Private Networks/Labs were available.
- As part of the third and final phase of screening, conducted on 21st and 22nd February 2024, 22 out of 23 startups and institutes presented Use Case Proof of Concepts (PoC) at the DoT-funded IIT Madras 5G Testbed.
Winners:
- Post completion of Stage III, the final names of one winner for each problem statements with an award money of Rs 1.5 Lakhs will be announced during the Valedictory Session.
- It would be pertinent to mention that Rs 2.5 Lakhs has been earmarked for productization of winning ideas/Proof of Concepts (POCs) leading to further incubation/incentivisation & funding to obtain workable tools/solutions for the usage of LEAs.
International
India hosts meeting of the UN Forum on Forests to deliberate on forest fires and forest certification
⇒ The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change organized a Country-Led Initiative (CLI) event as part of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) from 26-28 October, 2023 at the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
- The United Nations Forum on Forests promotes the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests. India holds the distinction of being a founding member of UNFF.
- The UN General Assembly adopted the first-ever UN Strategic Plan for Forests for the period of 2017-2030. This Strategic Plan serves as a global framework for actions at all levels to achieve the sustainable management of all types of forests, including trees outside forests, and to combat deforestation and forest degradation.
Country-Led Initiative (CLI):
» The CLI’s primary goal is to contribute to the discussions of UNFF regarding the implementation of Sustainable Forest Management and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests. It also aims to facilitate the sharing of best practices among UNFF member States for the implementation of SFM and the UNSPF.
- The CLI discussed on thematic areas involving forest fires and forest certification.
- During this event, experts from UNFF member countries, the UN organizations, regional and sub-regional partners, as well as major groups, deliberated on the thematic issues.
» The formal meeting was commenced on 26th October 2023.
» The programme included two days of deliberations and exchange on guiding themes- forest fires and forest certification- and a one-day field trip.
- The deliberations on the thematic areas- forest fires and forest certification- promoted sharing of good practices on these areas to support global actions in advancing the Global Forest Goals of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF).
» This meeting hosted discussions amongst the participating states on these issue areas.
- This was attended by more than 80 delegates participating from over 40 countries and 20 international organizations, both in person and online.
» The meeting came out with implementable frameworks and recommendations for management of forest fire and forest certification leading towards Sustainable Forest Management, which will be considered for discussions at the 19th session of UNFF scheduled at UN Headquarters, New York in May 2024.