National
‘Operation Blue Freedom’ Expedition
⇒ During the events organised by Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar flagged off a pioneering expedition ‘Operation Blue Freedom’.
A team of people with disabilities from across the country undertook an expedition till Siachen Glacier, to create a new World Record for the largest team of people with disabilities to reach the world’s highest battlefield.
The team of people with disabilities, trained by ‘Team CLAW’, a team of Armed Forces veterans, undertook this expedition till Kumar Post (Siachen Glacier).
About Dr. Ambedkar International Centre:
Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, a premier autonomous research body mandated to research and provide policy feed to empower marginalised communities and to bring in Socio Economic transformation in the society.
World's second-largest refurbished state-of-the-art National Gene Bank
⇒ Recently, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the world’s second-largest refurbished state-of-the-art National Gene Bank at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Pusa, New Delhi.
The National Gene Bank established in the year 1996 to preserve the seeds of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) for future generations. It has the capacity to preserve about one million germplasm in the form of seeds.
Presently it is protecting 4.52 lakh accessions, of which 2.7 lakh are Indian germplasm and the rest have been imported from other countries.
Second Season of successful travelogue 'Rag Rag Mein Ganga'
⇒ Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Anurag Thakur launched the second season of successful travelogue ‘Rag Rag Mein Ganga’ along with Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Union Minister of State in Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries Shri Prahalad Singh Patel. This program has started on Doordarshan from 21st August 2021.
Second Season of ‘Rag Rag Mein Ganga’ travelogue will cover the cultural, mythological, historical and socio- economic details of this great river while being centric to the theme of nirmalta and aviralta.
The first season of the series was telecast on Doordashan in 2019.
75 "Hunar Haat"
⇒ Recently, Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that 75 “Hunar Haat” will be organised across the country as a part of “Amrit Mahotsav” of 75 years of India’s Independence. 75 “Hunar Haat” will be organized with the resolve of “Vocal for Local” in all parts of the country.
He also said 75 “Amrit Mahotsav Parks” will also be constructed on the vacant Waqf lands across the country under “Waqf Taraqqiati Scheme” and “Pradhanmantri Jan Vikas Karykram” (PMJVK) of the Union Minority Affairs Ministry.
The Minister stated that under the “Amrit Mahotsav”, “Mera Watan, Mera Chaman” Mushairas and Kavi Sammelans will also be organized across the country till 2023.
Vriksharopan Abhiyan 2021
⇒ Coal/lignite PSUs of the Ministry of Coal have set an ambitious target under the “Go Greening” drive to cover 2385 hectares of area under bio-reclamation/plantation for this year. The “Go Greening” drive has been launched on 19 August 2021.
Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi launched the “Vriksharopan Abhiyan 2021” in the presence of Minister of State for Coal, Mines and Railways Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve to give the right impetus to the “Go Greening” drive.
Vriksharopan Abhiyan 2021 is one of the key events of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. This is an important step towards enhancing green cover in and around coalfields and for environmental sustainability in mining operations.
International
Indian Navy and Royal Bahrain Navy Maritime Partnership exercise
⇒ As part of its Persian Gulf deployment, INS Kochi reached at Manama in Bahrain. INS Kochi participated in the four-day Maritime Partnership Exercise.
Indian Navy and Royal Bahrain Navy Maritime Partnership exercise was commenced on 18 August 2021 in Manama, Bahrain in the Persian Gulf region.
A co-ordination and operational planning conference between the Indian Navy and Bahrain Navy teams was also held ahead of the Maritime Partnership Exercise.